Farmers Movement Archive

BKU representative quits UP panel on agriculture, says it didn’t meet since formation 3 yrs ago

Muzaffarnagar: A representative of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has quit a commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2017 to address problems faced by the farmers, alleging that it didn’t meet even once since its formation.BKU’s media in-charge Dharmendra Malik has sent his resignation letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath.“Krishak Samriddhi Ayog’ Uttar Pradesh (Farmers’ Prosperity Commission) was formed in 2017 to address farmers’ issues. But since then, no meeting has been held. The purpose for which the panel was formed has not been fulfilled,” Malik said.The letter read, “Respected Yogi ji, I am sending you the resignation from the post of member of the commission with thanks that it was formed on November 10, 2017 under your chairmanship for the interests of farmers. I was nominated as a non-government member and a representative of the farmers’ organization in the commission. The purpose of this panel was to listen to the problems of farmers and to solve them. It is a matter of great sadness that even after almost three-and-a-half year, not a single meeting of the commission has been organized.”Malik claimed that the panel also did not send any suggestion to the Centre on the three agriculture laws.“Today, there is a deadlock between the government and the farmers regarding the recently-introduced agricultural laws across the country. Farmers spent the last three months on roads in freezing cold, but the government could not find any solution. Even on such a serious subject, no suggestion was sent to the Centre by the panel. It also did not seek the opinion of the farmers of the state through dialogue. The commission has not been able to fulfill the purpose for which it was formed,” Malik said in the letter.Later, Malik told TOI, “We (BKU) always fight for the interest of the farmers and cannot compromise on it.”

The Times of India

2021-03-01

Meerut