Centre defaming farmers' stir hoping it would dissipate, that won't happen: Samyukta Kisan Morcha
New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday accused the Union government of "defaming" the farmers' stir against the contentious farm laws and said the long-drawn agitation would not dissipate as being "hoped" by the BJP dispensation.
The SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions, claimed that several state governments are standing firmly with the agitation and that more farmers have reached the protest sites on the Delhi border to join the movement.
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Delhi's border points for over six months now protesting the three agri laws and demanding a new law be made guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP).
"Every opportunity is being desperately seized upon to slander the protestors. However, their failed strategy is bound to fail again," the SKM said.
"What the farmers are asking for is that their fundamental right to livelihood is protected. In a democracy, it is expected the government would accept their legitimate demands. Instead, the BJP dispensation is unnecessarily prolonging the agitation, defaming it and hoping it will just dissipate. That is not going to happen," it said in a statement.
The SKM claimed that many BJP leaders have been asking the Union government to resolve the farmers' issues.
"In a recent memorandum from Tamil Nadu chief minister (M K Stalin) to the prime minister (Narendra Modi), the issue of repeal of three farm laws was raised. Maharashtra is reportedly in the process of amending its law to neutralise the ill effects of the central legislations on its farmers," it said.
"West Bengal CM (Mamata Banerjee) has been asking that the protesting farmers' demands be met. Governments led by other parties in a few other states have stood with the farmers' movement and joined their calls for a countrywide action," the SKM added.
It claimed that hundreds of farmers from Jaspur in Uttarakhand reached the Ghazipur Border Thursday and a large contingent, led by BKU (Tikait), reached the Ghazipur border on Friday after walking for five days.
Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.
The protesting farmers, on the other hand, have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.
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Swearing-in ceremony of new Assam govt to be held on May 12
Guwahati (PTI): The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected BJP-led NDA government in Assam will be held on May 12, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states, and representatives from industries are expected to attend the function.
The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Veterinary Field, Khanapara, he said.
“Chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the DGP, Assam today to assess preparedness for the forthcoming visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Council of Ministers”, Kota posted on X on Wednesday night.
Arrangements related to security, traffic management, venue readiness, protocol, and inter-departmental coordination were discussed in detail, he said.
''Emphasised the need for seamless execution, strict adherence to established protocols, and close coordination among all stakeholders," Kota said.
All departments concerned have been directed to maintain the highest level of preparedness to ensure the ceremony is conducted smoothly, securely, and in a manner befitting the significance of the occasion, he said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tendered his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who asked him to continue as the head of the caretaker government.
Union minister J P Nadda and Naib Singh Saini have been appointed as the observer and co-observer, respectively, for the election of the BJP Legislature party leader, which is likely to be held on May 10.
The ruling NDA returned to power for the third successive term, securing 102 of the 126 assembly seats in the state with the BJP winning 82 constituencies and its allies - the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) - bagging 10 each.
