J&K Kisan Tehreek joins Bharat bandh call given by Samyukt Kisan Morcha

Demands repeal of anti-farmer laws, constitutional guarantee of Minimum Support Price

Demands repeal of anti-farmer laws, constitutional guarantee of Minimum Support Price

Jammu, Sep 27 (KNS): On the call for Bharat Bhand, Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Tehreek held protest demonstrations across the region on Monday demanding repeal of anti-farmer laws passed by the BJP government undemocratically and unconstitutionally in the Parliament without any consultation, debate and discussion last year. The protest call was given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — the umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against the Centre’s three agricultural laws.

While addressing the protest demonstration at Jammu, CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said these anti-farmer laws are bound to destroy the agriculture sector and threaten India’s food security. Besides, these laws will lay the basis for the abolishment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and mortgage country’s agriculture and markets to the corporate sector.

The issue of fair price for their produce by ensuring a minimum support price for all crops has been a long pending demand of kissans. On the one hand, the farmers are facing the brunt of massively increased prices of diesel, petrol, fertilizers, other agricultural inputs and their daily necessities, and on the other hand, they are becoming poorer as their income is getting reduced. It is clear that farmers of this country are being made into agricultural labourers when it comes to their main source of income. By amending the Essential Commodities Act step price hike was seen in the essential communities like mustard oil prices have reached over Rs 200 per litre.

The historic kisan struggle demanding repeal of the agri-laws and legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price is continuing in its 10th month. The Modi government continues to remain adamant and is refusing to engage with these struggling kisans through talks. The government should immediately start negotiations with these kisan to sort the issue.

Others who were leading and addressed the demonstration include Kishore Kumar President Kisan Tehreek, Sewa Ram, Banarasi Das, Mandav Sigh, Muzafar Wani, Jia Lal kisan leaders. They said that Jammu kisans are in solidarity with the struggling kisans across the country. They stressed that it was high time that the central government accepted the demands of the kisans who have been struggling for ten months now.

Om Prakash, General Secretary CITU expressed solidarity with struggling kisans. He called upon to strengthen worker peasant unity to fight the neoliberal policies and attack on the livelihood of kisans and working class.

Similar protest demonstration was held at Srinagar where kisan leaders Abdul Rashid Pandit and Abdul Rashid Itoo addressed the demonstration and demanded minimum support price (MSP) to orchardists and kisans of the region and expressed concern over various problems being faced by the Kisans across J&K.

They said that horticulture has totally been neglected by the government and a major chunk of the population dependent on this sector. The issue of fair price for their produce by ensuring a minimum support price for all crops has been a long pending demand. The government must include the fruit industry in the MSP. This legitimate demand despite repeated promises/assurances has not been conceded till date. (KNS)

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