Kisan Sansad, a mock Assembly session, was held under the banner of ‘Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, Chhattisgarh’ to discuss the State Government’s paddy procurement policy, crop insurance scheme, land acquisition and other farmer-centric issues here at Budha Talab on Monday.
Hundreds of farmers from different parts of the State gathered at the spot to register their protest against what they called ‘anti-farmer policies’ of the State Government.
The ‘session’ witnessed activities like ‘Question hour’ and ‘Zero hour’, where the farmer leaders played the role of Assembly members and participated in discussion on the aforesaid issues.
“The State Government has deceived the farmers by going back from its promises. Thus, we held ‘Kisan Sansad’ to register our protest and decide further course of actions”, said Sanket Thakur, member of ‘Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, Chhattisgarh’.
During the ‘session’, Anand Mishra from Mungeli raised the issue of paddy procurement.
He accused the State Government for leaving the farmers on middlemen’s hands by limiting paddy procurement to 10 quintal/acre.
While, Tejram Vidrohi from Rajim asked as to why the government did not ensure purchase of paddy on MSP in the grain market.
Dwarika Sahu from Arang drew attention towards the State Government allegedly going back from its several promises and Nagesh Banjor raised the issue of deaths reported in Bilaspur due to sterilisation camp tragedy.
Virendra Pandey brought ‘no confidence motion’ against the government.
later, ‘no confidence motion’ was unanimously passed by ‘Kisan Sansad’ against the BJP ruling Government in the State for allegedly backstabbing from its promises made to the farmers during the last Assembly election including that of purchasing every single grain of paddy on minimum support price of Rs2100/quintal, giving bonus of Rs300/quintal, free electricity for irrigation and not implementing the suggestions of Swaminathan Committee’s report.
Before starting the ‘session’, the farmers paid tributes to the women, who lost their lives post sterilisation surgery in the government-run camps in Bilaspur district.