Repeal central farm laws, not modify: Farmers body to Maharashtra govt

Ensure that the three central farm laws are fully repealed and not accepted with any modifications, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) on Saturday appealed to Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Maharashtra government is trying to bring new farm laws in the state by making some changes to the three central farm laws, AIKSCC President Ashok Dhawale and other AIKSCC leaders said. "However, making amendments to the draft of the central laws will not change the purpose behind them nor the 'anti-farmer' and corporate character of these laws," said Dhawale, while adding that both the AIKSCC and Samyuktha Kisan Morcha have demanded a repeal instead of minor changes. The state government should not rush to enact these laws considering the sentiments and expectations of farmers' groups across the country, he added.

Dhawale, ex-MP Raju Shetti, Medha Patkar, Pratibha Shinde, Namdev Gawde, S.V. Jadhav, Ajit Navale, Kishore Dhamale, Subhash Kakuste, Subhash Lomte, Seema Kulkarni, Raju Desale, and others, also pointed out that the Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of the three farm laws. The seven-month-long protests against the three farm laws passed by the Centre are still underway, and Maharashtra's new laws have also not been discussed in the public domain, they noted.

"In the interest of Maharashtra farmers, we demand that the state government take an unequivocal stand on the issue by passing a resolution in the Legislature asking the Centre to revoke the three disputed farm laws, and enact a central law that gives a fair guarantee to agriculture produce," the signatories said.