Farmers Protest Against The Agricultural Bill: Bharat Band Update

Farmers protest against the agricultural bill: Bharat Band Update. Tejashwi Yadav launches tractor rally. Farmers are protesting all over the country today regarding the agriculture bill. Various farmers’ organizations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union, have announced to block the countrywide today, 31 organizations are joining it.

Farmer organizations have also got support from many parties including Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Akali Dal, TMC. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has taken out a tractor rally on agricultural bills. Earlier, a three-day rail roko campaign in Punjab has started from Thursday.

The farmers are stuck on the railway track and are demanding the withdrawal of the bill. The biggest impact of this can be seen in Haryana, Punjab, and especially in West Bengal. Apart from this, political parties along with other states are also ready to take to the streets to protest against the bill.

No price, no respect: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said that the MSP would be taken away from the farmers. They will be forced to become slaves of trillions through contract farming. He further said that there will be no price nor respect. The farmer will become a laborer on his own farm. The BJP Agriculture Bill reminds of the East India Company Raj. We will not let this injustice happen.

Tejashwi Yadav’s tractor rally in Bihar

Leaders are also joining the protests of the farmers. In this sequence, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has taken out a tractor rally against the agricultural bill. During this, he said that the government has made our Annadata a puppet through the donor.

He said that the agricultural bill is anti-farmer. The government had said that they would double the income of farmers by 2022, but this bill would make them poorer. The RJD leader said that the agricultural sector has been corporateized.

Amritsar-Delhi National Highway Block

Farmers have blocked the Amritsar-Delhi National Highway near Phillauri in Jalandhar, Punjab. In view of the Bharat Bandh in Punjab, all market associations have asked for shops to be closed. During this time only necessary services will be provided.

Demonstration of farmers in Karnataka

Members of the Karnataka State Farmers Association are demonstrating the bill in Bommanahalli. Police in the area have been trained to maintain security and corona safety regulations.

Farmers sitting on railway tracks in Punjab

In Amritsar, Punjab, the ‘Rail Stop’ movement of the peasant workers’ struggle committee continues. The farmers here started the agitation from 24 September which will last till 26 September. In view of the agitation, the Ferozepur Railway Division has canceled all 14 special trains running from Amritsar from September 24 to September 26 at 12 pm.

Significantly, many opposition parties, including Congress, are opposing the bill. Congress has called the bill against the federal structure and unconstitutional. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that these black laws would be challenged in the court.

At the same time, Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleges that through the Bills, the government has inaugurated the new Zamindari system in the country and this will promote profiteering.

What is the concern of farmers

The real concern of the farmers is about the MSP. Agriculture is about mandis. They fear that the provisions of the new bill will make the agricultural sector fall into the hands of capitalists and corporate houses.

Some organizations and political parties want the MSP to be part of the bill so that grain procurement does not fall below the minimum support price. While the government has clearly stated that SSP and Mandi system will continue as before.

The two bills that both houses of Parliament have ratified include the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Bill 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agreements Bill 2020 on Agricultural Services. Farmers are on the road with both these bills.