Congress Rajya Sabha member and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Thursday alleged here that the Narendra Modi Government has brought the farm Bills in the interest of multinational companies (MNCs).Addressing a Press meet, Singh said the Modi Government has always acted against farmers and the farm sector even since it came to power in 2014.
“The Congress Government had never accepted the WTO stricture that prohibits giving subsidy of more than 10 per cent of cost of production to farmers. But this Government has done it. Under the provisions of the new farm bills, farmers will not be ensured minimum support price for their produce and no action can be taken against buyers for buying agriculture produces at less prices.
By virtue of these Bills, multinational companies will enter into the Indian agriculture market and create monopolistic business,” alleged Singh.Stating that agriculture is a State issue, Singh said existing MSP and Mandi Acts would now come under the control of the Union Government which would ultimately cause heavy damage to farmers.
Congress State Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra termed the Bills as “anti-farmer”. Giving an example, Mishra said the Orissa High Court had accepted the fact that farmers were being exploited by mill owners and directed the FCI to directly buy farm produces at MSP directly from farmers.
However, both the BJD Government in the State and the NDA Government at the Centre approached the Supreme Court to challenge the HC order. But the apex court didn’t accept the petition for hearing. “As per Mandi system, a farmer can sell his produce at Mandi or in the open market. But the Modi Government is now telling a lie that there is no such provision in the Mandi system.
Both the BJD and the BJP are anti-farmer,” alleged Mishra. Among others, PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and working president Pradeep Majhi were present.