Farmers Movement Archive

Vote for MSP, Rakesh Tikait urges Bengal farmers

BURDWAN: Leaders of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha on Thursday held a mahapanchayat in Bengal’s rice bowl to present a counter-narrative to the BJP’s “pro-farmer” stance amid the assembly polls. “This is the moment when BJP seniors will arrive on your doorstep and ask for a handful of rice. Ask for MSP (minimum support price) for your paddy when you give them the rice. You need to work out a plan and ask them these questions because they will come to you again at the end of 2023, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,” said Morcha spokesperson Rakesh Tikait at Asansol Municipal Park Maidan in Burdwan. Tikait and several others, including activist Medha Patkar, have been touring the districts and urging farmers to give BJP a sharp rebuff in the Bengal polls. “Farmers are under threat. They are not being able to protect their own produce. The BJP-led government at the Centre is also bringing an amendment to the Electricity Act that makes it mandatory for people rearing more than one cow to apply for commercial connection,” he said. The Morcha leader said the Centre would soon pave the way for companies, such as Walmart, which will end business for local kirana shops. “The BJP is desperately banking on Bengal because it lost three assembly elections. A defeat in Bengal can break its arrogance,” he added.

The Times of India

2021-04-16

Kolkata