Odisha farmers extend supports to peasants agitation in Delhi
By A Iswar Rao
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 3: Farmers in Odisha on Thursday extended support to the ‘DelhiChalo’ protest by staging demonstrations here in state capital Bhubaneswar. They echoed, among others, the demands for scrapping the recent farm laws enacted by the Parliament, legal assurance with regard to continuance of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for agriculture produces and withdrawal of cases slapped on the agitating leaders.
Several farmer organisations under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsha Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) gathered at the Lower PMG Square here in the morning and tried to march towards the Odisha Legislative Assembly to register their protest against the new farm laws.
A scuffle ensued when the police tried to stop the farmers from marching ahead. The police took several leaders, including Akshaya Kumar, the national convenor of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan, into custody and later released them.
“We extended our support to the agitation which has been launched against the three farm laws passed in the Parliament in its last session. The ongoing Dilli Chalo call is now the biggest farmers’ movement in the country after the Independence against some oppressive anti-peasant pieces of legislation. We will continue with our agitation for the next 7 days in the state,” said All India Kisan Sangharsha Coordination Committee’s convenor member, Suresh Panigrahi.
