Farmers Movement Archive

Farm front hits out at parliamentary panel’s reoprt on commodities law

Bathinda: Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has condemned the parliamentary standing committee on food, consumer affairs and public distribution for recommending that the government implement the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The morcha stated that during 11 rounds of talks with central government ministers, it was repeatedly explained that the three laws were against farmers and citizens in general. Morcha leaders said, “The ECA makes a wholly anti-poor recommendation that food, which is the most essential item for the survival of human beings, should be removed from the list of essential commodities. It allows unlimited private hoarding, which will lead to winding up of PDS facilities. It will render government procurement of foodgrain superfluous and will expose 75 crore beneficiaries to open market purchase of food requirements, promoting corporates and MNCs in food markets.” The morcha also stated that it was “disgraceful” that many parties claiming to support the farmers’ agitation for repeal of the three farm laws, voted for the implementation of ECA. “This exposes a wider consensus amongst these parties on these laws,” the morcha claimed on Saturday evening. Morcha leaders also condemned the statement of RSS in its annual report, saying that anti-national and anti-social forces have created a deadlock between the Modi government and farmers in the agitation related to agricultural laws. “Such thinking towards farmers is an insult to them. The government should immediately repeal all the three agricultural laws and enact the law on MSP,” stated the morcha. Farmers also claimed that the government, in the wake of tough opposition, withdrew the new rules related to wheat procurement. Now, the same system (which was followed in 2020-21) will be followed for wheat procurement. SKM also stated that a Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat was organised in Patna, where thousands of farmer-labourers participated under the banner of All India Kisan Mahasabha and Khegramas. A Kisan Mahapanchayat was organised at Rae Bareli while a Kisan Mazdoor mahapanchayat will be organised in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on March 22. Mitti Satyagraha Yatra is being organised from March 12 to March 28 in several states. It will start from Dandi on March 30, reach Shahjahanpur on April 5 and Singhu the next day.

The Times of India

2021-03-21

Chandigarh