New Delhi: On the fourth day of Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, the Essential Commodities Act (Amendment) 2020 passed by the Central government was rejected by the farmers' associations. The Kisan Sansad also passed a resolution supporting the Essential Commodities Act 1955 demanding the government not to tamper with the act. In an exclusive interaction with ETV Bharat, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Yudhvir Singh, who is also an observer of the proceedings of the Kisan Sansad, said that farmers have cleared their point in keeping the Essential Commodities Act 1955 in its original format by terming it necessary.
"Even public thinks that out of the three agricultural laws, the Essential Commodities Act (Amendment) 2020 is more dangerous as under this law not only the manufacturer but also the consumer will be badly affected because when the capitalists will control the entire market then as farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, the food grains will be stored in locked safes," the farmer leader said.
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"When farmers will produce crops, big industries will buy them at cheap rates. The industrialists will fill their godowns and exploit the consumers. The exercise will be practised more in the coming days," he added. Singh believes that by running Kisan Sansad next to the Parliament, farmers have mounted pressure on the government. Continuous discussions over the agriculture laws have made people more aware and the farmers' protest is transforming into a mass movement, Yudhvir Singh said.
Sing informed that prominent opposition parties like Trinamool Congress are supporting the farmers' agitation against the three farm laws and demand to enact a law guaranteeing purchase on MSP. Currently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on her four-day visit to New Delhi. According to sources, she is likely to meet farmer leaders in the national capital. Speaking on the issue, Singh said that the possibility of the meeting cannot be ruled out. However, nothing has been decided yet.
"Farmers' platform has not been shared with people associated with politics but farmer leaders are not averse to informal meetings," he stated. Meanwhile, the uproar of the opposition parties continues in the Parliament on the issue of farmers' protest and the Pegasus snooping case.
On being asked that with the ruckus in parliament over farmers' protest, the Centre might listen to the farmers' plight, Singh said that he has no hope from the government. "Farmers are ready to continue their protest till infinity. We will not stop our movement until the three farm laws are repealed," he added.
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