Farmers Movement Archive

Purnia farmers to Centre: Repeal farm laws

PURNIA: In solidarity with their counterparts holding protests at Delhi border demanding roll back of the three controversial farm laws, farmer leaders under the banner of Bihar Kisan Sangharsa Samanvay Samiti, Purnia unit, took out a march to R N Shah Chowk near the collectorate here on Saturday. Nyaz Ahmad, coordinator of the Bihar Kisan Sangharsa Samanvay Samiti, Purnia unit, said, “The sacrifice of our colleagues at Delhi border will not go in vain. The Union government will have to pay attention to farmers’ demands. More than 600 farmers have laid down their lives fighting for the cause. It is independent India’s longest movement.” Mohammad Islamuddin, district president of the All-India Kisan Mahasabha, said, “If the mandi system has shortcomings, the government should make changes in them. Only 7,000 mandis are functional in the country against the requirement of 42,000.” “The mandi system was abolished in Bihar in 2006. The MSP for maize, fixed by the government, is Rs 1,860 per quintal. However, farmers are unable to sell their produce at the MSP,” he added. Avinash Paswan, a member of Bihar Kisan Sangharsa Samanvay Samiti, Purnia unit, said, “In the name of reforms in the farm sector, the government is trying to hand over agri business to big private players. As a result, the remaining mandis will come to an end under the influence of corporate houses.” Earlier, wearing black badges, farmer leaders also paid floral tributes to Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a seer as well as farmer leader who first propagated peasant movement in the country.

The Times of India

2021-06-27

Patna