Farmers Protesting in Himachal Pradesh Receive Support from 19 Different Groups

On Friday, 19 social groups, women's bodies, and farmer organisations in Himachal Pradesh released a joint statement in favour of the country's three-month-long farmers' protest. The statement demanded that the three Central farm laws be abolished, as well as improving the minimum support price (MSP) system and extending it to cover more crops, especially fruits and vegetables grown in the state.

The declaration slammed the ‘undemocratic' way in which the farm bills were hurried through Parliament during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

The All India Democratic Women's Association, the Bhumiheen Bhumi Adhikar Manch, and the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti were among the organisations that condemned the rules, arguing that they were intended to favour corporate houses.

Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act of 2020, they say, has the ability to demolish government-run APMCs. The second contract farming law puts farmers in the dock not only by exposing them to threats while entering into contracts with corporations, but also by barring farmers from seeking relief in the courts.

According to the statement, it also intends to limit the government's control over the production, supply, and delivery of certain essential goods. They have protested the state and federal governments' efforts to discredit the nonviolent demonstrations through a number of methods.

The harassment of those speaking out in favor of the farmers' movement, whether protestors or journalists covering the news, is "utterly shameful" and "contrary to democratic values," according to the statement. The statement will be submitted to India's President, asking that the three farm laws be removed.