Farmers Movement Archive

Karnataka farmers should lay siege on Bengaluru just like Delhi: Rakesh Tikait

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday asked the farming community in Karnataka to lay siege to Bengaluru with tractors, just like it was done in Delhi, in protest against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre.“You have to make a Delhi in Bengaluru… and surround the city from all directions,” Tikait said while addressing a protest rally in Shivamogga, about 320 km from Bengaluru on Sunday.“The protest must be done with tractors only,” he added.The farmers from all across the country, mainly from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act passed by Parliament last year.“Unless the three laws are repealed, and there is a law related to the MSP, you need to continue this agitation in Karnataka as well,” Tikait said.He added that agitation will have to continue against several contentious laws that aim at “grabbing lands from farmers” and forcing them to work as daily wagers in factories. Tikait said there were many such bills in the pipeline relating to milk, electricity, seeds and fertilizers, which were also being prepared to be introduced.He claimed that the privitisation of nationalised banks will result in farmers who have availed loans through Kisan Credit Cards, by pledging lands, will be forced to part with them.

Hindustan Times

22-03-2021

India