Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of Congress on Saturday extended support to the Bharat Bandh called by the farmers protesting at Singhu Border against the new farm reform laws.
“We urge people to come out in large numbers and support the Bharat Bandh call given by the farmers, as they are our Annadatas,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, Niranjan Patnaik.
Earlier on Friday, the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), a State-based outfit fighting for the rights of farmers had also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh.
NNKS convenor Akshya Kumar on Friday informed that they are awaiting the Central government’s move after discussion with farm leaders on key demands of farmers. “If the government doesn’t accept their demands, we would join them in the call for Bharat Bandh on December 8,” he added.
The leaders of different farmers’ outfits said that they have planned to stage road blockade across the country and occupy toll plazas.
The farmer outfits in the country said that their agitation will be intensified until the new legislations are scrapped. Farmers have been protesting against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Odisha BJP General Secretary, Golak Mohapatra said that the middlemen will be impacted by the new farm laws and the farmers should not worry.
“As Congress and Left Parties were surviving on the money from these middlemen, they are now politicising the matter,” said Mohapatra.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)