Cong protests ‘draconian’ farm Bills, seeks withdrawal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23

The Congress party workers staged a protest outside the residence of BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik over the issue of three farm bills introduced in the Parliament by the Centre.

The party workers termed the bills as 'draconian' and against the interests of the agrarian community, which would marginalise small farmers and promote corporatisation of agriculture. Bhagwant Pal Sachar, District Congress Committee Rural President, said, “The BJP has back stabbed the farming community by bringing the three ordinances and then getting these passed in the Parliament without discussion and with voice voting.”

He also criticised SAD leader Harsimrat Badal. He added that it was a political compulsion for the SAD. He said Harsimrat should have reigned when the three ordinances were discussed by the cabinet. He added that the Congress would oppose the bills with all its might and demanded the government to withdraw them.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appealed to all sections, including all political parties, social and religious organisations to support the farmers' struggle against the anti-agriculture black laws introduced by the Modi Government and make the September 25 bandh a success.

AAP also termed the announcement of 'Chakka Jam' by the Badals on September 25 as a conspiracy against the peasant struggle. Addressing a press conference here today, Kultar Singh Sandhwan of AAP alleged that despite the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal was a 'drama’.

Senior party leaders Manjinder Singh Lalpura, Ashok Talwar, Rajinder Palah, Jaskaran Bandesha, Sohan Singh Nagi and Anil Mahajan were also present on the occasion.

Trade unions to back Punjab bandh on September 25

Tarn Taran: Numerous associations have extended their support to the kisan unions for the proposed “Punjab bandh” on September 25. The Revenue Patwar Union in its meet held under the chairmanship of Sarabjit Singh Sandhu decided to support the farm unions. Members of the union termed the Bills as anti- farmer and decided to wear black badges on September 24 and 25 in solidarity with farmers. Karnail Singh Deo, chief, Federation of Arhtiya Association, announced to support the bandh. Volunteers of the AAP urged masses to take part in the bandh. Members of 10 national-level trade unions protested at the DAC and announced to support the bandh. Gurpreet Gandiwind of the trade unions termed them as anti-farmer Bills. The Zamhoori Kisan Sabha and Dehati Mazdoor Sabha held a protest and asked shopkeepers to take part in the bandh for safeguarding the interests of farmers. OC