New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), one of the farmers’ groups protesting against the three farm reform laws that were enacted by the Parliament a couple of months ago, on Friday filed an Intervention Application before the Supreme Court in the matter.
The application of the farmers’ union in the petition filed by Tiruchi Siva, Member of Parliament (DMK), has challenged the Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act. 2020, Farmer’s Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The plea submitted by the BKU (B) through their counsel AP Singh, alleged that the new agri laws are “illegal and arbitrary”, saying these acts would pave way for “cartelisation and commercialisation” of the agricultural produces and will make the ryots “vulnerable to corporate greed.”
It was also alleged in the petition that the laws were passed hastily without adequate discussion, pointing out the current stand of the Centre which is not going ahead to reach a logical conclusion even after multiple rounds of talks.
“Due to illiteracy of many farmers, there would exist their inability to negotiate the best terms with a private company and may lead to an unequal bargaining position”, the plea said, adding the system “needs strengthening of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system, Minimum Support Price (MSP) and financial support.
Multiple pleas are already pending in the Apex Court, including another petition by the BKU in November for a stay on the implementation of the laws.
