Team Herald
Panjim: In sync with its High Command, the Goa Congress unit has decided to launch a statewide protest from September 28 against the controversial agricultural reform bills passed by the Parliament recently.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) along with the farmers across State will hold a march to Raj Bhavan on September 28, protesting against the farm bills and also the “undemocratic” manner in which they were passed in the Rajya Sabha. The party will submit a memorandum to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, via Governor of Goa Bhagat Singh Koshyari, demanding not to grant consent to the Bills.
The decision for an agitation was taken at a meeting of office bearers held on Wednesday.
The three legislations — Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill– were passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, amidst severe protest by the opposition benches.
Addressing media persons on Thursday, GPCC president Girish Chodankar said the party will conduct various protests to build pressure on the Central government to withdraw the three legislations.
“We will march to Raj Bhavan on September 28 and submit a memorandum demanding that the bills be withdrawn. The march will be held maintaining proper social distancing norms and other safety measures,” he said.
The newly appointed Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao will lead the morcha.
Chodankar added that the party will launch a signature campaign as well and will also observe ‘Save farmer, Save Labour’ day on October 2. The signature campaign will go on till November 15.
“A mega Kisan Sammelan (farmer’s convention) will be held on October 10 at Rivona, in South Goa,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat condemned the passing of the bills and said that under the proposed system, Agriculture Produce Market Committees will be hit hard with trade moving out of their jurisdiction to zero tax in the private trade zone.
He added that the bills have paved a way for dismantling the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, which is set to hit the farmers badly. “Goa Agriculture Marketing Board chairman is also on record that they will suffer loss of around Rs eight crore,” the former CM said.
Kamat also said that removal of onions, potatoes, cereals and pulses, oil seeds from essential commodities list will lead to sky-rocketing prices and hoardings by rich and mighty.
