SHILLONG: Congress spokesperson Zenith Sangma has questioned the intention of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in appreciating the farm bills that has triggered widespread protests across the country.
The NDA government claims that the three farmer-related bills — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation Bill), Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – are bold and progressive and would transform the agriculture sector apart from raising the farmers’ income.
Reacting to this claim, Zenith said, “When minimum support price (MSP) is not mentioned in the bill, how can the chief minister say that it will not affect the farmers? Gradually, there will be an impact. Did he not read through the contents of the bill or it is just that he wants to be in good books of his godfather, Narendra Modi?”
Joining the rest of the country in protest against the passing of the bills, the state Congress, under the directive of the central leadership, will also hold agitations in the state with a demand to repeal the law.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, the Congress Spokesperson said that the party opposed the passage of the farm bills in the Parliament as it was done without any consultation with the stakeholders — neither the opposition nor representatives from the farmers’ association — which is against the interest of the people of the nation.
He observed that the action of the BJP is a reflection of their high-handedness and is bulldozing because it enjoys the majority.
“The Congress has started agitational programmes in opposing the bills and demanding to repeal the law”, he said, adding that there will be series of agitations across the country.
Zenith said that the farmers in the country will not get any security if the bills become Acts.
He cited that the farmers will not get the benefit of Minimum Support Price (MSP) with the abolition of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act.
“The farmers, while selling their crops or agricultural produce, will be at the mercy of big corporate houses as once the APMC is abolished, the farmers cannot take their produce to the mandis,” he said, adding that Food Corporation of India (FCI) cannot approach the farmers.
He predicted that the big corporate houses will buy famers’ crop at their own desired rate.
The party spokesperson said that the Congress demanded to insert the words ‘Minimum Support Price’ and add a clause wherein MSP will be indicated for the agricultural produces in the law.
On October 2, the Congress will observe a Kisan Mazdoor Bachao Diwas, and organise dharnas and marches in every assembly and district headquarters. On October 10, kisan sammelan will be organised at every state capital and any important places within the states.
He informed that two crore signatures of farmers will be collected and memorandum demanding repeal of the Bill will be submitted to the President Ram Nath Kovind on November 14.
Bills welcomed
Meanwhile, state BJP Kisan Morcha (Farmers Wing) welcomed the new bills. “This is a boost to the agriculture sector in the country which will also provide justice to farmers,” the BJP farmers’ wing said in a statement.
The BJP Kisan Morcha said that the bills will give small farmers the liberty to tie up with food-processing units and supply their produce with pre-fixed price or even set up their own unit through small food-processing units, besides eliminating the role of middlemen.)