IMPHAL, Oct 2 - Manipur Congress today staged a sit-in protest demanding scrapping of the three farm legislation passed by Parliament recently. Leaders of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), including former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Gaikhangam and MPCC president M Okendro, took part in the sit-in protest held at Congress Bhavan here.
The protest was staged under the aegis of the Kisan Congress of the MPCC as part of AICC�s nationwide observance of �Kishan Mazdoor Bachao Divas� (save farmers and farm labourers). Protesters held placards proclaiming slogans like �save farmers, save economy�, �do not promote big corporates at the cost of farmers�, �do not go unilateral, save democracy�, �do not suppress farmers�, etc. Taking part in the protest, Ibobi Singh termed the three farm laws as �anti-farmer� and demanded immediate scrapping of the legislation. He alleged that the laws were not passed in the interest of the farmers.
He also said the laws were passed in Parliament without any discussion. He added that the laws were forcibly passed by the Central Government.
The former three-time chief minister insisted that even if the three bills were passed and enacted, these should be withdrawn immediately.
�We are demanding scrapping of the new agricultural laws not in our interest but in the interest of the farmers. The laws hurt farmers� interest in many ways,� he said.
�Not only the Congress, but some of the partners of the ruling BJP have also registered their strong protest against these legislation,� he claimed.
�Various political parties, including allies of the BJP-led NDA, also extended their support to the �Kishan Mazdoor Bachao Divas� which was observed nationwide coinciding with the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi,� Ibobi said.
The sit-in-protest was staged after the party observed the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Congress Bhavan.
The three farm sector laws which were recently passed by Parliament are the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.
