As part of the ongoing agitation against the Central farm laws, the Maharashtra Congress has collected signatures of a staggering 60 lakh farmers to demand repeal of the “anti-farmer” Central farm laws.
A petition carrying 60 lakh signatures was handed over by Revenue minister and State Congress President Balasaheb Thorat to the Congress’ in-charge for Maharashtra HK Patil. “No other party has ever carried out such a massive campaign and collected such a large number of signatures,” a state party statement said.
“Today, we handed over the signatures of 60 lakh farmers in the state to Shri HK Patil ji who will hand over the petition to Congress president Sonia Gandhi,” Thorat said. These signatures –along with a statement signed by farmers across the country -- will be handed over by the Congress to President Ramnath Kovind in New Delhi on November 19.
“These 60 lakh signatures show the huge opposition of the farmers to this law. Maharashtra's fight against agricultural laws has become a role model for the country,” Patil said
Speaking at a function organised at Tilak Bhavan here, Thorat said: “During the recent weeks, we carried out agitations against the new agriculture laws. We organised a virtual rally of Maharashtra farmers – which was attended by 50 lakh farmers”.
“It is not a small task to submit a petition with 60 lakh signatures. It is a historic campaign. These unjust laws should be repealed. Maharashtra has always been a guiding state for the rest of the Country. We intend to protect the interests of farmers by enacting a better agricultural law than Punjab,” Thorat said. .
Thorat said that under the leadership of late Indira Gandhi, a green revolution took place in the country and the agricultural sector was transformed. “But the present BJP government has continuously worked to weaken the farmers and the agricultural systems of the country,” he said.
Apart from Thorat and Patil, prominent among those present at the function organised at Tilak Bhavan were Energy minister Dr. Nitin Raut, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh, Mumbai Congress President Eknath Gaikwad. Former Minister Naseem Khan, Former MP Hussain Dalwai and State party working President Muzaffar Hussain.
It may recalled that on September 30, the Maharashtra government had stayed the notification issued by it in August to implement the three ordinances issued by the Centre that had preceded the farm Bills which have now been enacted and set up a Cabinet sub-committee to study implementation or otherwise of the “anti-farmer” central farm laws which have evoked vociferous protests from farmers across the country.
The ruling Congress and NCP, which are two constituents of the MVA government in Maharashtra, have come out in the open about their opposition to the farm laws, while the Shiv Sena is also very much with the two of its ruling partners in the state in its reservations in implementing the three farm laws in the state.
Talking to media persons earlier on Tuesday, Thorat said that the state government would soon come out a law that would nullify the adverse impact of the three newly passed laws --the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 – would have on the farmers in the state.