Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: Up in arms against land acquisition ordinance brought by BJP Government at Centre, Pradesh Youth Congress in Jammu and Kashmir has announced to join nationwide Kissan Satyagraha by AIYC even as the regulation is not applicable in the State.
“Ever since BJP Government has assumed power at Centre, there seems a deliberate attempt to harm the agriculture industry, especially the small farmers and agriculture based workers,” said Shahnawaz Choudhary, PYC president while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, here today.
Accompanied by Pranav Shagotra, PYC vice president, Manjeet Singh and Abid Kashmiri, general secretaries, Mr Shahnawaz alleged that the farmers were not getting fair price for their production while there was a shortage of fertilizers, urea and seed varieties also. “Above all this BJP Government is now trying to snatch farmers and tribals land on the pretext of land reforms. Congress will fight anti-farmer policies and put up a stiff resistance to such moves,” he said and informed that IYC has launched a nationwide Kisaan Satyagraha and signature campaign from January 12.
Shahnawaz alleged that the BJP Government through the black land ordinance had made it possible and legal for the private players to snatch the farming land and earn profits. “In pursuance of Rahul Gandhi’s efforts, then Congress-led UPA Government changed 119 years old 1894’s Land Acquisition Law in 2013 and brought in a new farmers friendly “Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013” but within the seven months in the Government, BJP decided to change this law with an ordinance,” he said.
Pranav Shagotra termed the ordinance as a blow to Indian farmers. He said that the UPA during its 10 years of Government hiked the MSP (minimum support price) on wheat from Rs 630 in 2004 to Rs 1350 in 2014 and on rice from Rs 550 in 2004 to Rs 1310 in 2014. “The BJP Government after taking over has done nothing but stabbed the farmers on the face,” he alleged.
Manjeet Singh alleged that the BJP Government in Center was not even following the routine democratic processes. In the last 7 months during their period they have brought in emergency executive order (ordinances) by 9 times. This makes it clear that the BJP Government is not ready to face the opposition in the Parliament thus using backdoor ways of implementing their anti-farmer anti-poor agenda,” he said.
Abid Kashmiri also spoke on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel