Farmers Movement Archive

Centre has betrayed farmers after promising ‘good days’: Kisan Sabha

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Monday said the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, which promised to usher in “good days”, had betrayed farmers, the common man and labourers to help corporates ‘loot’ the country. Participating in a protest organised by farmers’ associations and labour unions as part of Bharat bandh here, AIKS joint secretary Vijoo Krishnan said the government promised minimum support price (MSP) that would be more than 50% of the production cost of agricultural produce. However, it enacted three farm laws that were against the interest of the farmers and consumers. While the production cost of garlic was Rs. 32 a kg, six farmers in Mansdsaur in Madhya Pradesh were killed in police firing when they were protesting against the offer of just Rs. 1 a kg. The number of farmer deaths had crossed one lakh since 2014, he said. The farm Acts were brought in when the entire country, including farmers, were suffering during the COVID-19 lockdown. The farmers were suffering as they were denied the MSP. While the government said the MSP for paddy was Rs. 1,868 a quintal, farmers in Bihar were forced to sell their produce for Rs. 800. When workers were rendered jobless during the lockdown, the government brought in four labour codes that increased working time from eight hours to 12 hours a day. Besides, the workers were denied right to form unions. ‘Legal hoarding’ The Centre removed paddy, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, onion and potato from the list of essential commodities so that corporates could legally hoard them and profit by exporting them, he alleged. Despite the death of 650 farmers, who were in a year-long protest in New Delhi demanding repeal of the farm Acts, the government remained reluctant to resolve the issue. The farmers had vowed to defeat the BJP in the election to be held to the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand Assemblies. Tamil Vivasayigal Sangam founder O. Narayanasamy spoke. Over 100 farmers and workers were arrested when they tried to stage a rail roko at Virudhunagar. Over 900 people were arrested when they indulged in road roko in 17 places in the district.

The Hindu

2021-09-28

Virudhunagar,TAMIL NADU