Repel farm laws: CPM warns of Assembly siege

Leading his party’s road roko at Saidapet on Tuesday, Balakrishnan said that the Prime Minister of Canada, the Head of the UN Human Rights Council and members of the UK Parliament are supporting the farmers’ struggle against the three laws brought by the Central government against farmers. 

“But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami speaks in support of the Centre,” he added. “The amendment made to the Essential Commodities Act would encourage hoarding and steep price hike. Is Chief Minister not aware of it?” he asked. 

He added that if the government did not procure the farm produce, it would lead to collapse of the fair price shops and affect supply of 20 kg of free rice in the state. 

“Struggles are taking place in every village. The AIADMK has passed the law in the Tamil Nadu Assembly even before the Union government passed it. If the Centre and state governments do not repeal these laws, the protestors in the villages will be on fire. We will besiege the state Assembly like Delhi,” he warned. 

Meanwhile, extending his party’s support to the ongoing agitations, Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman said that the while the entire world was crippled with COVID-19, farmers worked round the clock to provide food for people, but the Union government not just enacted acts against farmers, but is also using power against them, which is a shame for the country.