Will mount agitation if farm laws not withdrawn: Mamata Banerjee

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

With the Left parties and its frontal organisations trying to hog the limelight against the controversial farm laws, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday joined the fray, announcing she would mount an agitation if they were not withdrawn.

The Left parties are her major rivals, besides the BJP, in the West-Bengal politics.

“I am very much concerned about farmers, their lives and livelihood,” Banerjee, who is also head of the TMC, posted on party’s official Twitter handle.

“GOI must withdraw the anti-farmer bills. If they do not do so immediately, we will agitate throughout the state and the country,” she wrote.

She has convened a meeting of office-bearers of the TMC to take stock of the situation arising out of the farmers’ protest.

The ruling TMC is reportedly feeling the heat from the BJP and the possible Left-Congress alliance with regard the Assembly elections in West Bengal, which are due April-May next year.

Banerjee further said the proposed TMC meeting would discuss how the Essential Commodities Act was impacting common people and resulting in sky-rocketing prices.

“The Central Government must withdraw this anti-people law,” the TMC head said.

She also pitched for withdrawal of the “ill-conceived” disinvestment and privatisation policy.