Farmers Movement Archive

Mumbai: Farmer groups welcome historic victory, demand law on MSP now

Mumbai: Farmers groups in the state greeted the repeal of the three farm laws with processions in different parts of the state, but said the real victory would come when the Centre passed a law assuring minimum support price (MSP) for crops. “We welcome the repeal of the anti-farmer and pro-corporate laws. This is a victory of a historic farmers agitation,” said Ajit Navle from the Kisan Sabha. “Besides the repeal, the Centre should fulfil our demand for a beneficial minimum support price for crops and farm produce. It should also withdraw the amendments in the Electricity Act,” said Ajit Navle of the farmers union, Kisan Sabha. The Maharashtra government should also withdraw its draft farm laws that the Kisan Sabha has demanded. The amendments had been tabled in the state assembly session in July and opinions had been sought on the draft. Unions have argued that the draft laws only make minor changes in the repealed Central laws. “Farmers will not stop raising their voices until a law guaranteeing MSP is passed,” said Raju Shetti from the Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatna. Shetti who had tabled two Private Members’ Bill in the Parliament in 2018, said, “I had introduced a bill to guarantee remunerative prices for farm produce. It is time to re-introduce the bill with some relevant modifications,” Shetti said. “It will ensure whether or not the produce is sold inside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee or outside, and to government or private entities. Farmers will get remunerative prices without worrying about the artificial price drop or frauds carried out by private entities,” he added. “Maharashtra had reformed farm laws beginning in 2006, but it did not improve the economic condition of farmers,” said Kishor Tiwari, from the Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti who is in the Shiv Sena. He said that the decision on repealing the laws had a lot to do with the upcoming polls in UP and Punjab. “We always welcome elections because at least then, some pro-farmer announcements are made,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-11-20

Mumbai