Farmers across the country protest against bills approved by Rajya Sabha on Sunday (File)
New Delhi:
Opposition parties and farmer groups across the country, including Congress and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), have announced their intention to vigorously protest against the two controversial agricultural bills approved by the Rajya Sabha Sunday – amid a pandemonium inside parliament and violent unrest outside.
The bills, which have already erased the Lok Sabha (vote by voice after the opposition withdraws) now only need the signature of President Ram Nath Kovind to become law.
Congress, whose lawmakers Rahul Gandhi and Partap Singh Bajwa have called the bills “death warrants” for farmers, will lead a nationwide unrest from Thursday.
The unrest, according to the PTI news agency, will include district-level protest marches. It will also include a hugely ambitious signature campaign – involving two crore farmers – which will be submitted to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 14 – anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“On October 2, the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, we will celebrate the“ Day of Safeguarding Farmers and Farm Workers ”. We will be holding rallies and marches in every state and district headquarters, calling for the immediate withdrawal of farm bills, ”Congressman KC Venugopal was quoted by the PTI.
Speaking to the media on Monday after a virtual meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mr Venugopal also said: “The way the government is bulldozing … in Parliament is totally unacceptable.”
Haryana farmers rally to protest controversial bills
Friday is expected to be the day of the red letter in opposition party protests against the bills, with a number of rallies and protests planned.
The BKU will organize a demonstration across the country and set up roadblocks. “Farmers have lost faith in the center run by the BJP …”, said its leader Rakesh Tikait, calling the Narendra Modi government “anti-farmers”.
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordinating Committee also called for a protest that day. According to the PTI, at least 10 unions have offered their support.
The Aam Aadmi Party will support a farmers’ strike in Punjab on this day, a strike that has been called for by at least 30 peasant organizations. Punjab AAP will also hold a protest a day before that by forming human chains across the state.
In Bengal, the Left Front and associated parties will block roads and organize protest rallies with farmers.
The DMK and its allies have announced protests across Tamil Nadu from September 28. According to the PTI, DMK leader MP Stalin said the bills would push poor farmers into a state of suffering.
Some farmers fear new farm bills mean MSP will be scrapped
The farm bills were passed after outright chaos and uproar in the upper house as the opposition protested what they called “the outright and utter murder of democracy.”
Eighteen opposition parties wrote to the president today expressing their concerns and urging him not to sign the bills. MPs are also seated on an indefinite demonstration on the premises of Parliament.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh (one of those suspended for heckling) was quoted by the PTI as saying: “Wake up millions of farmers … The BJP government has mortgaged your life … We are on a commotion in Parliament, you should agitate outside “.
The bills, which the government says will help farmers get better prices for their produce, have been criticized by opposition parties and much of the farming community.
Critics fear the loss of the price support system (PSM) and worry about the entry of private actors – a move, they say, could have a negative impact on a sector that contributes around 15% of the economy. Indian economy of $ 2.9 trillion.
With inputs from PTI
