Farmers Movement Archive

Tejashwi reviews preparations for human chain formation

PATNA: Leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday urged people to hold soil in their hands and take a pledge to support farmers while participating in the human chain on January 30 against the three controversial farm laws enacted by the Centre recently. Tejaswhi said the RJD would organise a weeklong ‘kisan jagrook’ programme in the state from January 24 to January 30 to create awareness among farmers. Tejashwi, who held a meeting with senior RJD leaders, including district presidents and MLAs at 10, Circular Road residence of former CM Rabri Devi, told reporters that the human chain will be formed at panchayat and village levels as well. Tejashwi accused the NDA governments at the Centre and in state of failing to address the concerns raised by farmers. “Farmers of Bihar are compelled to sell their produces much below the minimum support price (MSP). For instance, if MSP of any produce is Rs 1,850, farmers are selling the same at Rs 700 or Rs 800. During the RJD rule, farmers used to sell their produces above the MSP,” Tejashwi said, said the Bihar government’s decision to abolish Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in 2006 led to the plight of farmers in the state. Tejashwi also slammed the state government over various other issues, including law and order, unemployment, problems faced by contractual employees and protests by the TET aspirants. JD(U) state spokesperson Arvind Nishad, however, said Tejashwi was raising the issue of farmers to gain political advantage. “Bihar has already implemented the third agriculture road map and it was awarded by the Centre for it. Two days back, a mobile app and a website, ‘sichai nishchay’, were launched to facilitate technical survey of farmland. Irrigating all farmland in the state is the priority of the state government,” Mishad said.

The Times of India

2021-01-22

Patna