Farmers Movement Archive

Centre favouring corporates, say protesters

Amritsar, September 20Farmers, protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, on Sunday slammed the Centre for ignoring their concerns and passing two of the three farm Bills in Parliament.They alleged that the Central Government had become a puppet of corporate houses. The government had failed to honour the interest of the farming community already reeling under agrarian stress, the protesters said.Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KSMC), said farmers of Haryana should not end the agitation and their brothers in Punjab would support them by launching ‘rail roko’ from Devidas Pura village here on September 24. On the same day, another ‘rail roko’ protest would be launched from Ferozepur’s Basti Tanka Wali area.Agri Bills conspiracy against farmers: VerkaExpressing angst over the passing of farm Bills in Parliament, MLA Raj Kumar Verka on Sunday said the laws were part of a ‘big conspiracy’ of the Centre against farmers and the poor. He said September 20 would be remembered as ‘black day’ in the country’s history.Verka said with the passing the Bills, the Food Security Bill, 2013, would also be hit. “The Food Security Act provided free food to nearly 80-crore blue card holders in the country, but now the purchase of food grains by the government will end and fair price shops will turn empty. How will the poor get free grain?,” he said.Farmers’ body burns effigy of Central govtTarn Taran: Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), Punjab, on Sunday blocked the National Highway 54 and burnt the effigy of the Central Government. The KMSC has been protesting near the main gate of the local District Administrative Complex (DAC). Addressing the protesters, Harpreet Singh Sidhwan, state leader, KMSC, slammed the Centre for getting passed the controversial Bills in Parliament. He said in a democratic set up the voice of the people should be honoured. — OC

The Tribune

2020-09-21