New Delhi: Many farmers across several states on Friday took to the streets to protest the contentious farm Bills passed by Parliament recently. Agitating farmers blocked roads, including highways, to press the Centre for the withdrawal of the three farm bills –the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020– and the labour bills which are yet to get the assent of the President.
Protests are being held by over 350 farmers’ organisations under the umbrella of All India Kisan Sangharsh (AIKS) Coordination Committee (AIKSCC).
Opposition parties like the Congress, the RJD and the Trinamool Congress as well as 10 central trade unions have voiced their support for the farmers.
Amid vehement protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Opposition of “misleading” farmers and “using their shoulders to fire” at his government over the farm bills for “selfish political interests”, and asserted that for the first time in decades, the Centre has framed laws that will benefit farmers and workers.
Farmers, however, have expressed apprehension that the farm Bills would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be at the “mercy” of big corporate entities.
Threatening to continue their fight till the three farm Bills were revoked, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Friday announced extending its ‘rail roko’ agitation in Punjab till September 29. The three-day agitation was scheduled to end on September 26. Railway authorities had earlier said that 14 pairs of special trains would remain suspended between September 24 and September 26.
‘Chakka Jaam’ in Punjab
In Punjab, as many as 31 farmers’ organisations came together for a complete shutdown of the state. While the ruling Congress and AAP have extended support to the protest, the Shiromani Akali Dal held a “chakka jaam” (road blockade) at many places in Punjab. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh dubbed the passage of the farm bills as “a step in the wrong direction”. He said no FIR will be registered for the violation of Section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of more than four people at a place.
Farmers block UP-Delhi border
Hundreds of farmers sat on protests on the UP-Delhi border against the farm bills after they were stopped by police personnel from moving towards the national capital, disrupting traffic in Noida and Ghaziabad. A heavy deployment of police personnel in riot gear was made to ward off any disturbance during the protest, a part of the nationwide demonstration against the three farm bills passed during the monsoon session.
The farmers, who had come on foot, two-wheelers and tractor-trolleys, were stopped by police personnel at Noida Gate in Sector 14A near Chilla border by erecting barricades. Two other groups were stopped at Hapur chungi and Modinagar in Ghaziabad.
With inputs from news agencies