Farmers oppose three laws through Ordinance in the name of reforms in agriculture sector
Farmers oppose three laws through Ordinance in the name of reforms in agriculture sector
Ferozepur, June 16, 2020: On Tuesday, the Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Jathebandi, continued its protest on the 7th day today in 8 Zones of Ferozepur district, to register their protest, opposing the implement the three laws through an Ordinance, by burning in effigy of the Modi-led BJP governments at the centre, in the name of reforms in the agriculture sector.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee – PPCC, led by its chief Sunil Jakhar has also called a meeting of Cabinet Ministers and 20 MLAs to strategies the campaign that will be launched at the block and village levels. The farmers led by Inderjit Singh Kaliwala, District President and Baljinder ingh, Talwandi Nipalan, Secreary, condemned the introduction of privatization under the pressure of multinational companies by passing the three laws through Ordinance. First – Essential Commodities Act to remove the existing restrictions on stocking food produce. Second – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 or the FPTC Ordinance — to end the monopoly of the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) and allow anyone to purchase and sell agricultural produce. Third – another law — The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 or FAPAFS — has been enacted to legalize contract farming, so that big businesses and companies can cultivate vast swaths of land on contract.
Farmers said, the ordinance will sabotage and undermine the existing mandi system, which is the backbone of the agricultural economy in the country. More-so, it will also put the farmers at the mercy of the corporate houses. Instead of giving relief to the farmers, the price of oil have also been increased which need to be rolled back immediately.
They said, we don’t see any emergency for bringing an Ordinance which will have long-term implications at a time when the country is fighting with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Condemning the soft attitude towards the Corporate houses of Modi government by giving Rs.58,000 crore to 615 companies manufacturing agriculture products, which comes around Rs.95 crore in one’s share, they said, the Modi government is working as an agent of Corporate houses.
Giving a warning to the government, the farmer’s leader said, in case the black laws through an Ordinance are not cancelled, the State Committee in its meeting on June 21 will take a decision for further course of action to hold massive protest at the State level.
