To support the farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farms Bill, the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) situated in Navi Mumbai’s Vashi area will remain shut tomorrow, on December 8.
In a demand for repealing the new laws by the Central government, the farmers’ unions supported by several political parties and trade unions have called for Bharat Bandh.
MLC Shashikant Shinde and former MLA Narendra Patil, leaders of Mathadi Kamgar, have appealed to all the Mathadi Kamgar and wholesale traders to participate in the nationwide bandh on Tuesday.
In a statement released by the state government, MLC Shinde stated that the new bills were passed without considering the opinion or interests of farmers or the APMC traders. These bills will bring a new wave of unemployment, and so farmers and APMC traders must oppose the laws with full force.
The Vashi APMC is the apex body of about 300 APMCs in the state. The five wholesale markets have a daily footfall of around 50,000.
Meanwhile, NCP chief and former union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar warned the Centre that if the deadlock continues, the agitation will not be limited to Delhi and people from across the country will stand by the protesting farmers. The NCP chief is also scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind on December 9 over the ongoing farmers’ protest against agrarian laws.
The talks between the government and the representatives of farmer unions remained inconclusive on Saturday, December 5, after the latter spurned the agriculture minister’s offer to amend the farm laws and stuck to the maximalist position demanding a repeal of all three ordinances.
As per the sources, to resolve the stand-off, an option to convene a special Parliament session is being considered. Both the sides have now agreed to meet again on December 9.
For those unaware, with the new Farms Bill coming in act, fruits and vegetables would get de-notified from the APMC in Maharashtra. Hence, the farmers can directly sell it to the consumers, bypassing the APMC.
However, due to lack of alternative system, farmers still prefer sending agriculture produces to APMC and Mumbai wholesalers, and retail shop owners buy it from the APMC. Though, there are a few farmers who are sending fruits and vegetables directly to the societies as they can afford managing transportation and coordination.