Farmers' bills: All Assam Students' Union slams Centre

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) has termed the three Bills passed by the Lok Sabha as anti-farmer ones, and the move has exposed the BJP-led government's real self.

In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said that by not extending its opinion against the three Bills the Assam government has also become a part of the conspiracy hatched by the Centre.

"The farmers are the owners of land and grains. Now the government is out to control the production of farmers, and want hand over the responsibility of controlling farmers' production to capitalists. This is set to give capitalists an upper hand in fixing the prices of agricultural produces. The farmers have taken to the streets as they know as to how the three Bills are going to affect them," the statement said.

The AASU feels that like farmers elsewhere in the country, the farmers of Assam will also have to face problems after the passage of the three bills. "The government got the three bills passed in the Lower House by virtue of its number, and now it is out to pass it in the Upper House. The government opted not to consult the State governments held by parties other than the BJP. With this move, the BJP insulted the federal nature of our democracy. The Centre also forcibly imposed the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) on the people of Assam," the statement said.

The three bills are – The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 

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