Farmers across the country protest bills passed by Rajya Sabha Sunday (Archive)
New Delhi:
Opposition parties and farmer groups across the country, including Congress and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), have announced plans to vigorously protest against the two controversial farm bills passed by Rajya Sabha on Sunday, amid pandemonium within parliament and fierce upheavals abroad.
The bills, which already passed the Lok Sabha (voice vote after the opposition left) now only need the signature of President Ram Nath Kovind to become law.
Congress, whose MPs Rahul Gandhi and Partap Singh Bajwa called the bills “death sentences” for farmers, will lead a national upheaval starting Thursday.
The agitation, according to the PTI news agency, will include district-level protest marches. It will also include an enormously ambitious signature drive, involving two crore farmers, which will be presented to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 14, the 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 to save farmers and farm workers.’ We will hold rallies and marches at all state and district headquarters, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the farm laws, “Congressional leader KC Venugopal was quoted by PTI.
Addressing 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 sweeping … in Parliament it’s totally unacceptable. “
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Friday is scheduled to be the day of the red letter in protests by opposition parties against the bills, with a series of rallies and demonstrations planned.
The BKU will hold a nationwide protest and carry out road blocks. “Farmers have lost faith in the center led by the BJP …”, said its leader Rakesh Tikait, calling the Narendra Modi government “anti-farmers”.
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination 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 that day, which has been called by at least 30 farmers’ organizations. Punjab AAP will also hold a protest the day before by forming human chains across the state.
In Bengal, the Left Front and associated parties will block roads and hold protests with farmers.
Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress will also protest, though not with the rival Left Front. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the ‘chi chi‘Center on Monday and said his party would take to the streets starting the next day. Ms. Banerjee also called for protests against the controversial labor bills.
The DMK and its allies have announced protests in Tamil Nadu starting on September 28. According to PTI, the head of DMK, MK Stalin, said that the bills would push poor farmers into a state of suffering.
Some farmers worry that the new farm laws will mean the abolition of the MSP system
The farm bills were passed after utter chaos and uproar in the Upper House, as the opposition protested what they called the “utter and utter murder of democracy.”
Eighteen opposition parties have written to the president on Monday to highlight their concerns and urge him not to sign the bills. Parliamentarians are also sitting in an indefinite protest at the parliament premises.
AAP’s Sanjay Singh (one of eight MPs suspended over the uproar) was quoted by PTI as saying: “Wake up millions of farmers … The BJP government has mortgaged your life … We are in an upheaval in Parliament, you must shake off “.
The bills, which the government says will help farmers get better prices for their produce, have been criticized by opposition parties and a large part of the farming community.
Its critics fear the loss of the price support system (MSP) and are concerned about the entry of private actors; One move, they argue, could negatively affect a sector that contributes about 15 percent of India’s economy, valued at $ 2.9 trillion.
With PTI inputs
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