Farmers Movement Archive

TRS insincere in its opposition to farmers’ Bills: say Congress MPs

Congress MPs from Telangana have alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has taken to opposing the three controversial farmers’ Bills after sensing large-scale opposition to the new legislation among the farming community across the country, including Telangana. Speaking outside Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, while participating in the protest against suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs on the issue, TPCC president and Nalgonda Member of Parliament N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC working president and Malkajgiri MP A. Revanth Reddy pointed out that the TRS MPs did not even seek an opportunity to speak against the Bill in the Lok Sabha although the party president had issued a statement directing the MPs to oppose the Bill. The TRS MPs silence on the Bll in Lok Sabha was part of the party’s tacit understanding with the BJP and the statement by party president and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was meant only to play to the gallery. However, after sensing the ground-swell of opposition against the draconian Blls, which they said would take away lands from small and marginal farmers for corporate farming, and after the resignation of Union Minister for Food Processing from Shiromani Akali Dal, an ally of NDA Government led-by BJP at the Centre, the TRS had decided to oppose it vocally, the Congress MPs said. ‘Lack of sincerity’ However, their lack of sincerity on the issue was exposed again during the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman’s election when the party did not vote against the NDA candidate. Although the Congress party would welcome any party that would oppose the draconian Bills against the farmers’ interests, they suspect the intent of TRS, the Congress MPs said. Congress party, in collaboration with the farmers’ organisations, would organise agitation across Telangana on September 25 against the “anti-farmer” policies of Modi government and the protests would be held at all district headquarters and Assembly constituencies, the TPCC president and.There was no mention of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers and no provision has been made to regulate contract farming. He said that the new farm Bills also finished the system of market yards where farmers sell their produce. “It is clear that the new law doesn’t have empowerment, or protection or price assurance for farmers. They are meant to give freedom to companies to do contract farmers, but nothing for farmers.”

The Hindu

2020-09-22

HYDERABAD,TELANGANA