Email
Print
ShareNew Delhi: The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) today joined the opposition in stalling proceedings in Lok Sabha and leading street protest here on the issue of the new sugarcane policy and vowed to struggle till the ordinance to fix a uniform price is withdrawn.
As main opposition BJP, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, JD(U) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) disrupted proceedings of Lok Sabha on the first day of Winter Session, DMK also voiced its opposition to the ordinance issued recently.
The Sugarcane Control (Amendment) Order 2009 Ordinance has changed the sugarcane pricing policy, fixing a uniform Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) which would put the burden on states, if they chose to pay more than FRP to farmers.
DMK leader TR Baalu said his party is opposed to the concept of state bearing the difference between the FRP and SAP. "We are opposed to it and the state governments should be taken into confidence".
He said, "If there is a structured and regulated discussion on sugarcane issue, we will participate in it and vent our feelings because the Central government has not taken the state governments into confidence."
In the Lok Sabha, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RLD president Ajit Singh led their party members into the well alleging a raw deal to cane growers as soon as the House met for the day and obituary references were made. After the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid pandemonium over the issue, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ajit Singh led a protest in Jantar Mantar in which thousands of farmers participated. BJP leader Arun Jaitley also joined them.
Bharatiya Kisan Union led by Mahendra Singh Tikait and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan also organised a separate protest on the issue.
"Farmers are agitated over the ordinance and compelled to commit suicide and burn their crops. As long as the issue is not resolved, we will not allow Parliament to function," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.
He alleged that the decision on the Sugarcane (Control) Amendment Order, 2009 was taken without consulting the state governments or any political party.
Asked whether the party was ready for talks with the government on the issue, Singh said talks could be held only "after the ordinance is taken back".
Describing the ordinance as "purely anti-farmer", Jaitley alleged that the government came under the pressure of mill owners and "compensated" them through this measure.
The SP chief said the opposition will continue to fight from Parliament to the streets against the "black law".
"Congress has done maximum damage to the interests of the farmers. All those who are in government are responsible for the plight of the farming community," he said.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said the government's move would ruin the cane farmers and criticised the government for not consulting anyone before bringing the ordinance.
Claiming that there was anger among the cane farmers over the issue, the RLD chief said government will have to accept their demands.
