Karnataka: Farmers Observe Statewide Bandh over Anti-Farmer Policies of BJP Govt.

A day-long bandh called for by various farmers’ organisations and trade unions in Karnataka on Monday received a warm response from people from all walks of life. More than 108 organisations were part of the bandh which was called in protest against the new land reforms Act and the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) amendment Act introduced by the Yediyurappa government.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh call has been supported by several pro-Kannada, Left and other outfits aside from the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which had opposed the amendments in the state assembly. The call was also backed by several labour organisations which are protesting against amendments to certain labour laws during a brief assembly session which concluded on Saturday.

The farmers decided to observe bandh after unsuccessful talks with Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. The state government, however, warned of stern action against any forcible enforcement of the bandh.

Defending the Bills, the government said the measures had been brought with the intention of giving freedom to farmers to sell their produce in any part of the state or the country.

On September 26, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the contentious Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020. The Bill amends the 1961 Act, removing almost all restrictions on buying farm land.

The amendments to the land reforms act liberalised farmland ownership, despite intense protests from farmers across the state.

The Act repeals Section 79(A), which sets a limit of non-agricultural income of Rs 25 lakh to buy agricultural land, Section 79(B), which bars non-agriculturists from purchasing agricultural lands, and Section 79(C), which penalises false claims of eligibility to hold agricultural land. It also makes certain amendments to Section 80 and states that the Class-A irrigated land (irrigated with water from a dam) can be used only for agricultural purposes.

The move also results in a new Section 80(A), which states that no conditions laid in the Act shall be relaxed in respect of land granted to persons belonging to SC/STs communites during the period of prohibition under the Karnataka SC and ST (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands), Act, 1978.

In the Bill, the government had proposed to increase the ceiling from 10 units (one unit of land is 5.4 acres) to 20 units for a family up to four people, and from 20 units to 40 units for large families above five people.

Farmers' organisations and opposition parties had expressed concern that an increase in the ceiling would enable large corporates to buy land in bulk, which would be detrimental to farmers and the rural economy.

Read more: Karnataka Farmers Protest Against Proposed Amendments in Land Reforms Act

The Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill was also passed in the Legislative Assembly on September 26.

While the amendments to the land reform Act liberalise farmland ownership, the APMC amendment Bill curtails the powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), allowing private individuals to start agricultural trading if they hold a permanent account number (PAN).

On Monday, farmers held protests across the state during the bandh. In Bengaluru, protesters took out a march from Town Hall to Mysore Bank Circle against the “anti-farmer” legislations. Later, hundreds of protesters were detained from Mysore Bank Circle.

Read more: Who Benefits from the New Farm Laws?

It is not just farmers from Karnataka who have taken to the streets. Farmers across the country have been protesting against the newly-introduced farm reforms – Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – pushed through by the Centre.

With inputs from PTI