The Congress on Thursday launched a two-month-long nationwide agitation against the Centre for passing the farm bills during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Congress said they will be also supporting the protests announced by various farmers groups across the country.
Widespread protests, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana, where farmers and farmer organisations have taken to the streets while opposing the move, are going on.
A farmers’ body will hold a ‘rail roko’ agitation till September 26 to lodge their protest against the three agriculture ordinances passed by the Union Cabinet. “We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 against the three agriculture ordinances,” said Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Different farmers’ organisations in Punjab have already given a call for a ‘bandh’ on September 25 in protest against the Bills.
Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the decision to call for a silent protest and lend support to protesting farmers were taken at a meeting of the State Unit Chiefs and General Secretaries early this week. The protest across the country will be led by party chief Sonia Gandhi and former chief Rahul Gandhi who have returned from the abroad after the former’s treatment.
Party chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala informed that in due course the protest may be joined by other Opposition parties and like-minded parties.
Several opposition parties have protested the passage of the farm bills in Parliament and have boycotted the proceedings of both Houses. Opposition parties had also taken out march inside Parliament during this Monsoon Session.
“The Government has destroyed the democratic system. The agricultural bills are neither in the interest of the state government nor the farmers. We raised our voice against this in Parliament and will now take to the streets,” senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel said.
Opposition parties also made a representation to President Ram Nath Kovind and requested him not to give his assent to the contentious farm bills. They conveyed to the President that the passage of the bills in Rajya Sabha was “unconstitutional.