The All-India Kisan Federation has called for a Bharat Bandh pan India on December 8th (Tuesday) in a protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. In this scenario, all non-NDA parties have united in favour of the farming community, lending their support for the nationwide strike. Even AP’s neighbouring state, Telangana too has lent its support to the agitating farmers. The farm unions have declared to block all state and national highways leading to Delhi, including toll plazas. The situation is turning tense with each passing day at the Uttar Pradesh border. It is known that the fifth round of talks between the farm unions and the Centre had failed to reach a consensus on Saturday.
The protest is mainly being held against – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act 2020, Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, which the farmers feel might give an edge to corporates thereby ending the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. During the negotiations, farm union leaders from Telangana and Rajasthan had argued against the Centre for its anti-farmer policies.
Jagan Government maintains silence
It may be recalled that the AP CM YS Jagan and his ministers had touted the YSRCP government as a farmer-friendly one. However, it is indeed shocking to see that none of the YSRCP MLAs, Ministers nor MPs have spoken out on the issue, when the farmers initiated such large-scale protests in the National Capital Region. Also, they haven’t expressed their support to the farmers. Not even a single question has been directed by the YSRCP government to the Centre over the contentious new farm laws. There are even speculations among the public, whether the Jagan government turned a bane for farmers in the state. It is also known that the YSRCP MPs had given their consent to pass the farm laws which were introduced by the Centre in the Parliament.
