JK Kissan Tehreek stage protests in Srinagar, Jammu

SRINAGAR — On the eve of Bharat Bandh, JK Kissan Tehreek held protest demonstrations at Jammu & Srinagar and demanded repeal of anti-farmer laws.

Addressing the protest in Jammu, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami as per a statement issued here said that these anti-farmer and anti-poor Agri-laws passed in the parliament in a brazen manner without any consultation, debate and discussion, is bound to destroy the agriculture sector and threaten India’s food security.

“Besides, these laws will lay the basis for the abolishment of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and mortgage country’s agriculture and markets to the multinational and domestic agri-business corporate,” he said.

“Those in authority might be surprised by the determination and resolve of the Kissan protestors as they find it hard to see where does it emanate from? For Kissans, it is a question of their identity and survival. What they fear is the loss of their whole way of life, of their land and their honor. The ‘rosy’ picture presented by the BJP government, cannot mislead them. They understand that the whole purpose of these arbitrary laws is handing over their land and crop to corporate houses and taking orders on what to grow and how to grow and selling the produce at dictated prices, thereby reducing them to the level of tenants on their own land,” he added.

Addressing the protest demonstration in Srinagar, Gh Nabi Malik, General Secretary JK Kissan Tehreek expressed concern over various problems being faced by the Kissans across J&K.

He said the issue of fair price for their produce by ensuring a minimum support price for all crops has been a long pending demand of Kissans. “The government must include Basmati, Saffron, fresh and dry fruit in MSP. This legitimate demand despite repeated promises/assurances has not been conceded till date. Unjustified price rise in petrol, diesel and LPG have created havoc for common people,” he added.

Mohamad Afzal Parry and Zahoor Ahmad Rather, Kissan leaders also addressed the protesters at Srinagar.

Omprakash and Sham Prasad Kesar, CITU leaders, demanded immediate halt to the draconian changes in labour laws and said that these rights were won over after a struggle of around 150 years. “The continuous aggressive attack on the workers’ rights has created uncertainty among the working class. The Modi government has gone on a privatization spree in the public sector undertakings including Banks which is going to strip public assets and add to joblessness. The government should give up its privatisation spree,” they said.

Kishore Kumar, President Kissan Tehreek, Sohan Lal, Baranrasi Das and Sewa Ram, Kissan leaders also addressed the protestors at Jammu. They appealed to all political parties to render full support to farmers and not to remain mute spectators. They said these anti-farmer laws have pushed the farmers into a critical situation.