Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday called for the repeal of the three new agriculture reform laws by calling a special session of Parliament.
Addressing the media at the Congress headquarters, Baghel said farmers hailing from different states have laid siege to the national capital demanding a rollback of the three laws.
Baghel said the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Law, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Law and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Law brought by the Modi government favour the corporates and so are anti-farmer.
It is an issue for 62 crore farmers of the country as the new laws in long run will help exploit the farming community. In Chhattisgarh, a special Assembly session was called to make new provisions in the Mandi Law.
The BJP-led government has sold Navratna companies, railway stations and airports, now the target is to sell the land holdings of farmers, he said.
The provisions of the new laws hit the roots of Mandis (Agriculture markets) of the states. The Corporate players will take advantage of the laws, which allows them to procure and stock. Indirectly, it will increase black marketing of essential commodities, said Baghel. The situation in Bihar is pathetic as the farmers are being forced to sell their paddy at Rs 700-800 per quintal, he added.
Commenting on BJP Vice President Dr Raman Singh’s allegations on non-implementation of the Congress election manifesto, Baghel said even his party does not take him seriously.