Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: Extending support to the Dilli Chalo protest, several farmer organisations on Tuesday staged demonstrations in different parts of Odisha protesting the new farm reform laws passed in the Parliament by the Centre.

Tension prevailed at Lower PMG in the State Capital city after a scuffle broke out between police and activists of All India Kisan Sangharsha Coordination Committee during a protest today. The scuffle was reported after police personnel tried to stop the activists to march ahead towards the Odisha Assembly.

It is pertinent to mention here that the `Delhi Chalo" call was given by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee. Several farmers’ outfits across the country have extended their support to the agitation which has been launched against the three farm laws legislations passed in the Parliament.

“We have extended support to the Dilli Chalo call which is now the biggest farmers’ movement in the country after the Independence. We will continue with our agitation for the next 7 days in the State,” said All India Kisan Sangharsha Coordination Committee’s convenor member, Suresh Panigrahi.

According to Panigrahi, anger against the three farm law legislations has been simmering among the farmers ever since the government passed the agricultural bills. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have been marching towards the national capital and have started to assemble at the borders. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is using water cannons and tear gas against the farmers, he alleged.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee members said the farmers are against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

“Efforts are being taken to split the movement. The Centre has been trying to divide the farmers’ movement by negotiating separately with different groups. Our fight against the Centre’s passage of the farm laws will continue,” said All India Kisan Sangharsha Coordination Committee’s convenor member, Jyoti Mohapatra.

The CPI (ML) today also staged a demonstration and blocked the National Highway No-16 at Tangi protesting the passage of the three farm reform laws. The members of the party demanded that the Centre should call a special session of Parliament to repeal the three new agriculture reform laws.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

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