Congress holds nationwide protests against farm laws, kicks off process to collect 2 crore signatures

The Congress on Friday held dharnas, marches and protests across the country against the farm laws enacted by the NDA government on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

It also began a massive month-long campaign to reach out to farmers, farm labourers, mandi workers, industrial labour and sundry employees of APMCs, to collect 2 crore signatures which will be presented along with a memorandum to the President of India on November 14, the birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, a press statement issued by KC Venugopal, MP & AICC General Secretary In-charge for Organization said.

Here is the complete text of the statement:

In line with the concerted opposition to the undemocratically, indeed unconstitutionally-enacted draconian anti-farmers and anti-labour legislations, PCCs across the country today observed “Kisan Mazdoor Bachao Divas”. Dharnas, marches and protests were held on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri -- two most prominent and influential voices and proponents of the rights of farmers and labourers in India.

Congress workers held dharnas and protests in all assembly constituencies and district headquarters across the country seeking the immediate withdrawal of the anti-farmers’ and anti-labour bills. These protests were held under the leadership of MPs, MLAs, DCC presidents and party in-charges. These protests carried out in consonance with the COVID-19 related safety guidelines were aimed at rallying farmers, farm workers and other stakeholders against the legislations enacted in gross disregard of the interests of farmers and labour with the sole aim of benefitting crony corporates, who will stand to gain even as the farmers are subjugated without the basic security of the Minimum Support Price and labour is alienated of the basic minimum job security.

Today also marked the beginning of a massive signature campaign by PCCs to reach out to farmers, farm labourers, mandi workers, industrial labour and sundry employees of APMCs. This month-long signature campaign will collect signatures from two crore farmers and labourers across the country. The PCCs will also distribute pamphlets during the signature campaign. A substantive memorandum along with the signatures will then be submitted to the President of India on 14th November, the birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.