Bhubaneswar: Tension ran high at the national highway in Bhubaneswar on Thursday following a protest by Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), a farmers outfit, as part of the nationwide ‘Chakka Jam’ protest against the central farm laws.
The outfit staged a demonstration protesting three farm laws including stoppage of the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism, which were recently passed by the Centre. The members alleged that all democratic norms were flouted to get the three farm reform bills passed in a hurry.
Hundreds of farmers led by NNKS national convener, Akshay Kumar organised a massive rally near Hi-tech square in Bhubaneswar. However, tension erupted after police tried to stop the rally. The farmers sat on a dharna on the NH after they were prevented by the police personnel to march ahead. A scuffle broke out between the outfit members and police, sources said.
“We are opposing the Central farm laws including the stoppage of Minimum Support Price system. Due to such laws, the prices of essential commodities have risen sharply. We also demand amendment of the relief code to provide a compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre to farmers for crop loss,” said NNKS national convener, Akshay Kumar.
Last month, a six-hour long marathon meeting was held at Kurukshetra which was attended by leaders of the farming community from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
The farmers' outfits from eight States had then decided to intensify their stir against Centre’s controversial Agri Acts by launching the nationwide 'Chakka Jam' protest on November 3.
(Edited By Devbrat Patnaik)