Call special assembly session to reject draft agri policy: Farm unions to govt

● The new draft is more dangerous than the old farm laws. The Centre has sent the new draft to states to get it implemented but we will not let it happen. HARINDER SINGH LAKHOWAL, BKU Lakhowal president

- Parteek Singh Mahal

FARIDKOT: Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders on Monday urged the Punjab government to call a special Vidhan Sabha session to pass a resolution to "reject" the newly announced draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

The draft policy, released on November 25, prioritises market expansion and technology, but neglects the issue of fair remuneration to farmers, claim farmer leaders.

Amid the ongoing indefinite hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the SKM, an umbrella body of 32 farm unions, started preparations for the second mahapanchayat which is scheduled to be held in Moga on January 9.

The unions held a meeting in Moga on Monday. A five-member committee was formed, which assigned responsibilities to separate teams for the maha-panchayat preparedness.

The committee took stock of things at the Moga grain market, which is the venue for the farmers' mahapanchayat. On January 4, the SKM held the first maha-panchayat at Tohana in Haryana.