Thousands of farmers have blocked NH 344 national highway, also known as Ambala-Roorkee, near Milk Majra village in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district to oppose land reform bills currently being debated in Parliament.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Gurnam Singh Charuni led the protest in Yamunanagar and thanked farmers for coming out in large numbers and extending their support for the agitation against the three agricultural ordinances, which the central government is addressing to pass as bills in the current session of Parliament.
Addressing the farmers, Charuni said the state government used the police force, registered false cases and farmers and also tried to divide the farmers, but failed on all fronts.
“I want to assure farmers in the state that the agitation will continue until the central government withdraws its ordinances and the government cannot stifle the voice of farmers,” he added.
In Kaithal, farmers blocked the Ambala-Hisar road near Titram Mor de Kaithal. Peasant leaders made it clear that the road will remain blocked for three hours and more decisions will be made after a state-level meeting on September 25.
In Kurukshetra, district farmers blocked national and state roads in the cities of Ladwa, Kurukshetra and Shahbad. The commission agents have also extended their support to farmers. The police were deployed but did not arrest the farmers. Police were seen managing diverted traffic on the interchange roads. While the farmers protested on the roads, the commissioners held a meeting at the grain market and assured their support for the farmers’ protest.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, moved two agricultural bills in Rajya Sabha, the agencies reported. The Farmers and Agricultural Products Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill of 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Guarantee and the Agricultural Services Bill of 2020 were approved by Lok Sabha with one vote of voice a couple of days ago.
The Draft Law on Trade in Agricultural Products and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) of 2020 allows electronic commerce of agricultural products and allows the creation of transaction platforms to facilitate the direct online purchase and sale of agricultural products.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Act of 2020 establishes an agriculture agreement prior to the production or breeding of any agricultural product. Said agreements will mention a guaranteed price to pay for the purchase of agricultural products.
Farmers’ bodies in some states and opposition parties have alleged that the two bills are aimed at benefiting large companies and ending the government’s purchase of minimum price-based agricultural products.
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