New Delhi: Even as the 11th round of talks between the government and agitating farmers remain inconclusive on Friday, CPM MP in the Rajya Sabha KK Ragesh told ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview that only the "do or die" option is left with the farmers.
"I was with the farmers ever since the protest started. I had seen the wrath of the farmers. All farmers organisation are united on a single demand that these three laws need to be repealed. Farmers organisations are not going to compromise with their demands," said Ragesh.
Ragesh has spent the last seven days with the farmers along the Sahajahanpur border area. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ragesh said that the Prime Minister is not providing the freedom to the farmers of the country "on the contrary he is providing freedom to the corporates and big business houses."
He said that farmers have no other options except do or die.
Ragesh, an MP from Kerala along with seven other MPs were suspended from the previous session of the Parliament after they protested against three farms laws in the well of the house.
"We were opposing these bills because they were not in the interests of the farmers. They are in the interests of the corporates. In fact, we were asking for voting in the house. I myself moved a statutory resolution and also a motion to send the Bill to a select committee. And on every occasion, we asked for a division. On the contrary, all these bills were passed on a voice vote. And subsequently, we were suspended," recalled Ragesh.
He alleged that with these laws, the government only intends to provide a monopoly market for the corporates and big business houses.
"There was no mention of MSP. We demanded that if a company or corporate purchase products from a farmer without providing MSP, there should be some penal provision on the company," said Ragesh.
He said that left and all other opposition parties will raise the issue on the coming budget session of the Parliament.
"We are going to raise our voice in Parliament. These bills were brought on the form of an ordinance, but on the other hand, there was no discussion taking place on these bills. Let the government explain with which organisation they consulted. The government should remember that agriculture is a state subject and no states were consulted," added Ragesh.
Read: RS Deputy Chairman Harivansh looks to treasury bench ere passing Bills: CPI MP
