Bharatiya Kisan Sangh warns the UPA
Hundreds of farmers along with the senior functionaries of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) staged a massive dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 29 demanding remunerative prices for agricultural produce and separate budget for agriculture. They also presented a five point memorandum to President Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar urging to implement it immediately. BKS national president Shri Anna Saheb Murukute strongly attacked the anti-farmer policies of the Central government and categorically held the apathetic attitude of the ruling establishment responsible for making agriculture unviable. He said on the one hand agriculture sector is facing investment crunch, on the other hand the Government is encouraging corporate and MNCs.
BKS national general secretary Shri Prabhakar Kelkar dwelt on the plight of farmers in terms of lack of market access and non-ruminative prices for agricultural commodities. He said the Government’s anti farmer policies have not only compelled lakhs of farmers to shun agriculture but also forced thousands of them to commit suicide across the country. The protestors were also addressed by national vice president Shri Tailuram, national secretary Shri Ambubhai Patel and veteran leader from Gujarat Shri Jeevan Bhai Patel.
In the memorandum the farmers also demanded that Land Acquisition Act should be farmers friendly and should ensure their proprietary rights even after acquisition. They also said the Seeds Bill should be simplified ensuring natural rights of farmers for seed preservation and exchange. There should be rational exim policy for agricultural produces.
(FOC)
