Farmers Movement Archive

SKM seeks clarification on Pawar’s amendment suggestion

Bathinda: Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has questioned Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on his statement on the agriculture marketing laws. The farm stir required an unambiguous clarification on the former Union agriculture minister to be put out by the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, morcha said. SKM said Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar could do what he wanted with Pawar’s reported suggestion for amendments in the laws, but it was not going to budge until their demand for repeal was met. Morcha warned the state government against coming under pressure from corporations or the Union government. All three parties of MVA had in the past supported the farmers’ movement, including a ‘Maha Padav’ from January 23 to 25, 2021 in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. Recently, when a delegation of farmer leaders in Maharashtra had met Pawar, who had assured them of the government’s support, the farm body claimed. The reported statements and the subsequent clarifications are causing confusion, it added. The Morcha also said it stood vindicated with the central government imposing stock limits on pulses, for various players in the supply chain, to control surging prices. It claimed it possible only because the Supreme Court had suspended the implementation of the amendments made to the Essential Commodities Act. It said numerous contingents of farmers are reaching various protest sites. Farmers were expected from Shamli and Meerut at Ghazipur border. Many had left from different districts of Rajasthan like Kota, Bundi, Hanumangarh and Jodhpur for the Shahjahanpur protest site. A convoy led by BKU Charuni left from Chandigarh for Singhu border.

The Times of India

2021-07-04

Chandigarh