Srinagar, Dec 14 (KNO): In solidarity with the farmers protesting against anti-farmer bills passed by the BJP government, J&K Kissan Tehreek held protest rallies across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
While maintaining social distancing norms, Kisan Tehreek held demonstrations in Srinagar, Jammu, District Headquarters Anantnag, Kulgam, Kathua, Reasi and other areas of J&K to protest against the anti-farmer policies of the BJP government.
Addressing the protest demonstration at Anantnag, General Secretary Kisan Tehreek Ghulam Nabi Malik as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that these new Agri-laws passed in the Parliament in a brazen anti-democratic manner preventing a structured discussion and voting, will threaten India’s food security, destroy Indian agriculture and our farmers, lay the basis for the abolishment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and mortgage Indian agriculture and our markets to the caprices of multi-national agri-business corporates and domestic corporates.
These bills have pushed the farmers into a critical situation. If the ordinance had been in favour of the farmers the government would have discussed and revealed the contents of the bill to the nation. These Acts will mean complete withdrawal of the Government from procurement and put farmers at the mercy of corporate companies. It is aimed to facilitate profiteering by big players, he said
He added the Modi government is pushing through various neoliberal measures under the guise of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign’. “All the measures announced under its auspices for agriculture and rural infrastructure has actually given nothing much to the farmers. The Covid-19 pandemic has become a golden opportunity for the Modi government to push through anti-farmer and anti-worker legislations without any proper parliamentary scrutiny or discussion.”
Condemning the BJP Government for its utter disregard for established Parliamentary procedures, federal principles, rights of States and farmers in the manner in which three anti-farmer Ordinances were pushed through without wide consultation, the protesters warned that their agitations will intensify unless the bills are repealed.
“Jammu and Kashmir administration’s move to retrieve forest land from alleged encroachers is not only dispossessing villagers from land they have been farming for generations, thousands of apple trees, too, have been chopped in the process. Even saplings have not been spared. This is unfortunate and must be stopped immediately. The government move was aimed at dispossessing them and attacking their livelihoods.”
The horticulture sector in Kashmir faced economic consequences due to the lockdown imposed after the Centre abrogated Article 370 last August followed by another lockdown in March after Covid19 pandemic, the statement said, adding that the real issue which farmers are facing since long is fair price for their produce by ensuring a minimum support price for all crops. This legitimate demand despite repeated promises/assurances has not been conceded till date—(KNO)