Farmers Movement Archive

Farm protest supporters term laws anti-constitutional & anti-national

Lucknow: The central government’s farm laws are anti-farmer, anti-constitutional and anti-national, said senior journalist P Sainath in Lucknow on Monday, speaking at the first event in a series of dialogues to be held for spreading awareness on the ongoing farmer’s agitation. Kisan Andolan Samarthan Samiti (KASS) and Nation for Farmers plans to hold similar sessions across 13 cities in UP to ensure public and intellectuals also come out in support of farmers. “Agriculture is a state subject, and the centre has never before passed a legislation without the consent of states. Months before the laws were passed, corporate houses were building silos across the country, which means they knew what was coming. The Acts are against all citizens as they curb Article 32 of the Constitution that gives right to litigation,” he said. “The laws were passed with voice vote while eight MPs had been thrown out of the House. There is no provision for voice vote. The demonization of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) by corporations and media is biased since APMCs guarantee minimum price,” he added. “There are many faults in government schools and hospitals, but nobody talks of their closure, because they at least make it possible for the poor to get education and health. Bihar removed APMC in 2006 and farmers there are getting a minimum 15% lower than the national price. And if something is harmful to our farmers, it affects all those who have a stomach,” Sainath said. “Students, engineers, academicians and advocates are joining the protest going on for over eight months now. The issue is no more regional,” said KASS convener Shivaji Rai. ‘March from Champaran to Varanasi in Oct’: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will launch Lokniti Satyagraha Yatra, a foot march from Champaran in Bihar to Varanasi in October. It will cross Jai Prakash Narayan’s village Sitab Diara and culminate in Varanasi on October 20. “The Yatra will spread awareness about the movement in UP and Bihar. We have 10 questions for the PM which we will take to the people,” said SKM’s Akshay Kumar.

The Times of India

2021-08-24

Lucknow