Anna Hazare  urged upon the farmers to launch countrywide movement against anti-farmer policies

Jagatsinghpur:23/11/17; Noted social activist and Gandhian leader Anna Hazare today urged upon the farmers to launch countrywide movement against anti-farmer policies of the government.

Addressing the state-level farmers’ conclave in Jagatsinghpur today, he said time is ripe now for second freedom struggle. The launch of massive movement could only result in fulfilment of genuine rights of farmers’ rights and restoration of democracy.

Farmers have suffered immensely over the years. No government has paid heed to their plight. The governments in the state and centres continue to adopt pro- industry stance while formulating policies which have proved detrimental to larger interest of farmers. The farmers are oppressed a lot. Farmers’ development has rarely stayed on government’s agenda. As a result 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. Farmers continue to end life almost every day for crop failure and debt related issues, he said.

The minimum support price should be at the rate of one-and-half times the production cost in agriculture. Besides each farmer should be provided with social security in the form of monthly pension. Unless they step countrywide movement, these demands would never be fulfilled, he said.