BHUBANESWAR: Farmers protesting against farm laws of the Centre scuffled with police at lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on Thursday while marching towards Odisha assembly. They demanded withdrawal of farm laws and strengthening of mandis.
Showing solidarity to thousands of farmers in Delhi, the farmers and leaders of different farmer outfits under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) marched towards Odisha assembly on Thursday. When the police stopped at Lower PMG, the farmer leaders and peasants had a scuffle with the cops. Later the senior police officers pacified the agitators.
AIKSCC state convenor Suresh Panigrahy said they condemn the act of the Centre in handling the protestors in Delhi. "We want the government to withdraw farm laws and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2020. Price of essential commodities is increasing because of the amendment in essential commodities Act. The farm laws will weaken the government Mandi system and promote private Mandi facilities," he added.
Panigrahy said they will stage state-wide stir on December 5 showing solidarity to the country-wide protest against the farm laws. "We will also stage demonstration in front of the office of revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) across the state on December 10. We cannot accept this draconian laws at any cost," he added.
Sashi Bhusan Swain, state secretary of All India Kishan Sabha, said the farm laws are anti-farmer in nature and it will leave the small and marginal farmers in distress. These laws are designed to help corporate houses. It is a conspiracy to weaken the minimum support price (MSP) practice in the country. "We reject these laws. If the Centre does not fulfill the demands of farmers in Delhi, our movement will be intensified in Odisha," he added.
Another group of farmers under the aegis of AIKSCC also staged protest at Laxmannath gate in Balasore on the same issue. They blocked the national highway-16 (NH) demanding withdrawal of farm laws.
Farmers under the banner of Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) organised a candle march from Master Canteen to Ram Mandir square to support the farmer movement in Delhi. "We have started our agitation from Tuesday protesting against the farm laws. We will continue this for some days to create awareness among the rural farmers about the dangerous impact of farm laws on them," said Seshadev Nanda, state coordinator of NKS.