Farmers Movement Archive

‘Govt misusing FCI’: Protests over new procurement rules

BATHINDA: Farm organisations organised protests across 16 districts in Punjab on Friday to oppose the FCI’s move to tighten specifications for procurement of foodgrains, saying that the central government was misusing government food procurement agency Food Corporation of India to “punish Punjab farmers for leading the sustained struggle against central farm laws”. Farmers also protested against the FCI’s move to ask farmers to upload land records before procurement. Protesters handed over memoranda to officials of the market committees in the name of the Prime Minister, demanding withdrawal of newly-enforced specifications. Farmers also observed the Muzara Movement Shahadat Diwas to pay tribute to those who fell to atrocities during the 1930s and 1940s while demanding land ownership rights for tenant peasants. Four peasants were killed in police firing at Kishangarh village in Mansa on March 19, 1949. Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) handed over memoranda in 51 mandis spanning over 16 districts of the state while activists held protests at 42 places in Punjab. Constituents of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha held protests at toll plazas in 68 places across Punjab, outside railway stations, business establishments of corporates and outside residences of BJP leaders. Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Dakonda) general secretary Jagmohan Singh said, “these new specifications are aimed at punishing Punjab farmers. Directions about uploading land records are not workable as there are about 16 lakh farmer families with landholdings but only 9 lakh of these are into tilling of land. Many have leased out lands to others. Under such circumstances, distribution of money for crop procurement would cause a lot of heartburn.” Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri alleged that the Narendra Modi-led Central government is working on the agenda of harassing Punjab farmers and causing them financial loses for taking the farmers’ struggle ahead. “We will face every ploy of the government but will not sit back and keep on fighting,” he claimed.

The Times of India

2021-03-20

Amritsar