Several farmer organisations will hold a nationwide ‘road blockade’ on Thursday in protest against the newly passed agriculture-related Acts. This will be followed by state-level protests and ‘Chalo Delhi’ march to the national capital.
Various farmers’ bodies have decided to come together “to spearhead the fight against three anti-farmer, anti-people farm laws and the Centre’s proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020″.
The decision was taken in the meeting between All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) and leaders of farmer unions of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and other states. The activists said they would then organise regional protests in various states to mobilise the masses and try to build movements seeking the withdrawal of the new laws and the Electricity Bill 2020.
“The demand shall be focussed on the withdrawal of the three recently-passed farm Acts and the Electricity Bill 2020. The protests will include huge state-wise/region-wise buildup of mass mobilisation and movements focussing on these demands,” according to a statement issued by the AIKSCC.
A newly-launched programme coordination body will lead the protests. A committee of the coordination body shall include V M Singh, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh, Raju Shetty and Yogendra Yadav. It will coordinate the two initial programmes on November 5 and another one on November 26-27.
The three newly passed farm laws of the Centre:
The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020,
Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance Farm Services Bill, 2020
Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020
According to the Central government, the farm laws aim at liberalising the farm sector and “provide freedom” to farmers and traders to trade at a venue of their choice, outside established structures regulated by the Agricultural produce market committee.
However, the Congress, many other opposition parties and several farmers organisations have been protesting against these legislations, claiming that these will harm the interests of farmers and benefit corporates, a claim denied by the government.
