Congress MPs protesting outside the Parliament against Centre's agriculture-related bills on Thursday (PTI)Congress has decided to launch a nationwide agitation against the Centre's three agriculture-related Bills to replace Ordinances issued earlier this year.
There is speculation that the party is in talks with other opposition parties to stage a joint agitation on both physical and virtual grounds.In a press briefing on Friday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala made the announcement at 3 PM at Vijay Chowk, outside Parliament.
Other leaders who were part of the briefing include Lok Sabha MPs Gaurav Gogoi, Rajeev Satav, Jasbir Singh Gill, Hibi Eden, and Amar Singh."Person sitting on prime minister's post should not mislead farmers and country.
The PM is lying at a time when the country is battling coronavirus and China is breathing down our neck," Surjewala said.He went on to add, "Why is the Modi government trying to finish off MSP? Both the Agriculture minister and the PM are saying that MSP will continue but when mandis will be finished, who will give MSP? Will FCI (Food Corporation of India) go to farmers' fields to give MSP?""Prime Minister Narendra Modi says now farmers can sell produce anywhere, 86.2 per cent farmers own less than six acres of land and 60 per cent own less than two acres of land.
How can such poor farmers have access to far-off markets, Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters.The Congress spokesman further asked the Centre, "How will small farmers fight for rights against mega corporate?""When APMC act will no longer be there, how will small farmers, mandi workers and transporters earn their livelihood? The mandi fees helps development in villages," Surjewala said.