STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FIGHTING PEASANTRY AGAINST THE ANTI_FARMER POLICIES
IFTU EXTENDS SUPPORT TO THE BANDH ON 25th SEPTEMBER
The way the two Bills relating to agriculture were pushed through the Upper House of the Parliament in the midst of agitations by the peasantry in Punjab, Haryana and in other parts of the country against the farm sector reforms, makes clear the intent of the RSS-BJP government. It believes that reforms in agriculture should benefit the foreign and native corporate to the disadvantage of the farmers in particular the small and marginal peasants while mouthing that these reforms benefit the farmers.
In all the three Bills there is nothing about the MSP which is crucial for the farmers while the government says that the MSP mechanism would continue. Cereals, pulses, oils and vegetables have all been removed from the list of essential commodities thereby leaving pricing and trading to the whims of the big market players. Stock limits have been abolished facilitating hoarding and black marketing. The role of the APMC, whatever may have been its limitations, is almost done away with by opening up parallel markets. Contract farming is another important feature of these reforms that will facilitate the corporate to pool farmers lands and exercise control.
The struggle of the peasantry against these reforms is just and needs to be supported by all democratic sections of society. Working class, that is also under attack by the labour reforms, that is, the codification of labour laws into four codes, should stand in solidarity with the fighting peasantry in this crucial juncture.
The National Committee of IFTU extends its full support to the just struggle of the peasantry and the “Bandh” slated for 25th September.
Aparna Pradeep
President General Secretary