Farmers’ protests erupted across Punjab and Haryana on Thursday against three ordinances passed by the centre which the farmers deemed “anti-farmer”.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) blocked National Highway 44 near Kurukshetra and staged a rally on Thursday and were charged by the Haryana police for breaking Covid-19 prohibitory orders and damaging property. On Monday, farmers blocked three roads with members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee blocking the Amritsar-Delhi highway about 40 km from Amritsar and held agitations at several places. The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee held protests at Patiala, Barnala, Moga, Phagwara and Amritsar.
Satnam Singh Pannu, President of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told the Indian Express they would continue with their protests till their demand was accepted.
The Three ordinances passed by the government are The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
The first ordinance i.e The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 is of major concern to the farmers. It seeks to “provide for barrier-free trade of farmers’ produce outside the markets notified under the various state agricultural produce market laws (state APMC Acts). The Ordinance will prevail over state APMC Acts.” They believe it will end the Mandi system of marketing and they will be forced to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
AIKSCC (Punjab chapter) president Darshan Pal said to Indian Express that farmers would be left to the “mercy” of big corporates if the ordinances were passed.
“These ordinances are against the interests of farmers. If the government wants to implement them, then it should ensure that no purchases are made below MSP.”, said former Haryana chief minister and Congress leader Bhupender Singh Hooda in his statement according to PTI.
