Farmers Movement Archive

Advocates lend support to farmers

Jalndhar, December 30Supporting farmers in their fight against the controversial farm laws, the members of the District Bar Association on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner in favour of the farmers’ demand.In the two-page memorandum, the senior advocates made an appeal to the government to accept the demands of the agitating farmers and revoke the ‘black laws’. To further support farmers, Advocate Gurmail Singh Lidhar, along with the other executive committee members, said there were many discrepancies in the farm laws.Highlighting core issues, he said, there has to be a minimum and maximum limit on Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed, when it comes to farmers selling their produce. Citing the recent example of cauliflower being sold at throwaway rates, Lidhar said farmers would always be at the mercy of traders in the absence of MSPs. “Besides, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) laws should be kept intact. If it is not done so, the potential scrapping of mandis would cost thousands of workers, who work in mandis, dear. For the convenience of farmers, the points of contract between all parties should be made clear. In addition, the Essential Commodities Act should be restored to its original form for easy transportation of farmers’ produce,” he said.“Eightyfive per cent farmers own less than 2 hectare land and it would be difficult for them to negotiate with big buyers not only in their native places but in other states as well,” Gurmail said.Referring to the legal conditions of farm laws, the advocates said there should be restrictions on hoarding to avoid unlimited stocking as it could lead to artificial price fluctuation and low prices for farmers after the harvest. Moreover, the implementation of all three Acts must be suspended till the deadlock between the farmers and the government is over.The Bar association members also expressed solidarity with thousands of farmers braving the chill at the Singhu and Tikri borders and paid tribute to people who lost their life during the protest.

The Tribune

2020-12-31