Farmers Movement Archive

Centre’s decisions anti-farmer & in interest of capitalists: Thorat

Nashik: State revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Sunday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “anti-farmer policy”. Thorat, who was in Nashik to address a conference of Nashik district farmers associations’ coordination committee, said the farmers have been protesting against Centre’s three farm bills, but during the last one year, the PM did not even approach the agitating farmers or interact with them to understand what they actually want, and it is really unfortunate. “The Modi-led BJP government is taking decisions in the interests of capitalists. Modi has adopted a disinvestment policy on some public sector undertakings in order to benefit some specific capitalists,” he said. Thorat alleged the BJP government passed three farm laws without any discussion in Parliament and those MPs who protested the farm bills were suspended. The minister said the APMC Act is stringent and it is mandatory to make payment to the farmers within 24 hours. Nevertheless, there have been incidents of farmers being cheated by some traders. “APMCs will not exist anymore due to the new farm laws. Therefore, cases of farmers being cheated by the traders will increase if the new laws are implemented,” said Thorat. Thorat also criticized the central government for its failure in tackling the pandemic that led to more fatalities. He also blamed the Centre for hiding the correct figure of Covid deaths. Earlier, the co-ordination committee of farmers associations had decided to take out a tractor rally in the city to protest against the three farm laws, but it was cancelled due to Covid pandemic.

The Times of India

2021-08-30

Nashik