Leading the charge on the opposition, Congress announced today that it will organize nationwide protests against the “anti-farmers” bills and collect the signatures of two million rupees. farmers for a memorandum against the legislation to be presented to President Ram Nath Kovind. Several opposition parties also wrote to the president urging him not to consent to the bills.
The BJP, on the other hand, plans to counter the opposition narrative with a mega exercise that aims to reach out to farmers and allay “misgivings” about the MSP (Minimum Support Price) issue.
The opposition has alleged that the government intends to destroy the MSP’s safety net and the mandi system, an accusation denied by the government that has accused these parties of deceiving farmers.
Earlier today, the Union Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar, held a series of meetings with deputies and ministers of the Union of Punjab and Haryana and the surrounding states where he briefed them on the merits of the two bills, party sources said.
Sources said that Tomar also reached out to the bearers of the BJP’s ideological headquarters, RSS, as well as Bhartiya Kisan Sangh and Swadesi Jagaran Manch. Both RSS affiliates have reservations about the bill and came to light with their objections.
Members of Parliament from Haryana, Punjab and neighboring states have been given talking points to address their constituents, especially farmers, and dispel any misgivings created by the Opposition about the MSP in the context of these bills, said the sources.
On Monday, the government also raised the minimum support price to buy six rabi crops, including wheat, by as much as six percent as it sought to send a strong message to farmers about the continuation of the MSP-based procurement system. .
The BJP has asked all state units of its Kisan Morcha, parliamentarians and ministers of the Union and state governments to categorically convey to farmers and all other state holders of the agricultural sector that the minimum price support mechanism will remain intact. even after the implementation of these two bills, they said.
Tomar has also briefed the spokespersons for the party’s national team and state units on the salient features of these two bills and also on the MSP mechanism.
Meanwhile, Congress plans to up the ante on the issue of farm bills by announcing a massive popular movement that would include protest marches and riots.
This was decided at a meeting of the secretaries general of Congress and the state in office, the first physical meeting held by the party at its 24 Akbar Road headquarters here since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The meeting also passed a resolution that struck down on the three agricultural bills.
At a press conference after the meeting, Congressional Leader Ahmed Patel said that the opposition party will bring the issue of agricultural bills to the people not only at the state level, but also at the district and village level.
“We discussed the political situation in the country, especially the agitation of farmers. The way the government of India is crushing laws against farmers in Parliament, is totally unacceptable to the country and the people of India,” he said. KK Venugopal, flanked by Patel, AK Antony and Randeep Surjewala at the press conference.
“What we had witnessed in Rajya Sabha yesterday and today, we did not expect this kind of attitude from a democratic government,” he said, referring to the commotion in Rajya Sabha on Sunday and the suspension of eight deputies from the Upper House on Monday. .
Venugopal alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “misleading the country” by making accusations against the opposition.
Surjewala also criticized the government, claiming that it was “wiping out” the livelihoods of farmers and workers.
In the next 72 hours, the general secretaries of Congress, state officials and senior leaders will hold press conferences at state headquarters against these farm bills, the congressional chief spokesman said.
Then, in the next four days until September 28, the Chief Ministers of Congress, the Chairmen of the Pradesh Congressional Committee, the leaders of the Congressional legislative parties along with the MPs, MLAs and senior leaders will walk from the PCC office or a prominent place like the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum to the governor, addressed to the president of India, requesting the withdrawal of these agricultural bills, Surjewala said.
A party press release said the marches to present the memorandum to governors will take place on September 28.
“On October 2, the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, we will celebrate ‘Save Farmers and Farm Workers Day.’ We will hold dharnas and marches in all states and district headquarters in India against agriculture bills, calling for their immediate withdrawal, “Venugopal said.
On October 10, all state units will organize ‘kisaan sammelans’ to make the voices of farmers heard, he said.
Surjewala said that from October 2-31, congressional workers will go to villages and collect signatures from farmers and the poor against the three agriculture-related bills.
Two million signatures will be collected and the head of Congress will present the memorandum against the bills to the president on the anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth on November 14, he said.
Congress and some other opposition parties have been protesting the agricultural bills, claiming they would harm farmers’ interests and benefit businesses.
The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Bill and the Farmers Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services were passed both by the House of Parliament amid protests from opposition parties such as Congress, TMC, DMK and the left. , as well as some groups of farmers.
(With inputs from agencies)
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