Farm ordinances may sound death knell for farmers: BKU

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 8

Slamming the Centre for bringing three ordinances in the name of agricultural marketing reforms, the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Kadian, has said these legislative steps would sound the death knell for farmers.

In a special meeting of the union held here today, it was decided to take out protest marches across the state on July 17 to apprise farmers and the public about ‘disastrous’ effects of these reforms on the farming community . 

Addressing the meeting, Harmeet Singh Kadian, president, BKU, cautioned the farming community against the ‘ulterior motives’ of the government to benefit corporate houses in the farm sector. He alleged that attempts were being made for ‘centralisation’ of powers and ‘destruction’ of the federal structure in the country.

Focusing on the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the BKU secretary general, Jagdev Singh Kaniawali, alleged that the Bill would end free power to agriculture and also free supply of 200 units to families belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

“The move would promote private power projects and privatisation of public sector power plants,” he added.

Other speakers, including Gurmeet Singh Golewal and Kuldeep Singh Chak Bhaike, condemned the Centre and the state government for imposing more taxes on petrol and diesel. They also made it clear that any step towards scrapping of the minimum support price (MSP) of farm products would not be tolerated by farmers.

‘Move will benefit corporate houses’ 

• Addressing a meeting, Harmeet Singh Kadian, president, BKU, cautioned the farming community against the 'ulterior motives' of the government to benefit the corporate houses in the farm sector. He alleged that attempts were being made for 'centralisation' of powers and 'destruction' of the federal structure in the country.
• BKU secretary general Jagdev Singh Kaniawali alleged that the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020, would end free power of 200 units to families belonging to SC communities.