Tribune news service
New Delhi, September 16
Farmers from Punjab and Haryana organized a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against food and agriculture reform bills on Wednesday.
The police detained the farmers while they protested. The Center on Monday introduced bills on food and agriculture reform in Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to provide barrier-free trade for farmers’ products outside of notified agricultural mandis, and empowers farmers to enter into agricultural agreements with private actors prior to production for sale of agricultural products.
On Monday, the draft Law on Trade in Agricultural Products and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), the Farmers Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services and the Draft Law on Essential Products (Amendment ).
Farmers from Punjab and Haryana organized a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui
Farmers have argued that they are forced to take to the streets by the apathetic attitude of the central government to their demand to withdraw the bills.
Farmers have expressed fear that this will pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system and that they will be at the “mercy” of big business.
