BATHINDA: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday slammed the Central government for bringing down basic customs duty on edible oils, and claimed that this is another move by the government to punish farmers in the name of controlling edible oil prices. The basic customs duty on crude varieties of palm, soybean and sunflower oils were brought down to low levels in addition to slashing of the agriculture cess (which was at 20%) imposed on these items till March 2022.
The central government did this after imposing stock limits on oilseeds and edible oils, said SKM. This will have an adverse impact on farmers, whose fresh harvests are coming into the markets at the end of kharif season of 2021, the SKM said. The duty cuts will further be in force till March 31, 2022, adversely impacting farmers’ domestic prices, the body added.
SKM has criticised the anti-farmer move and demanded once again that remunerative MSP should be made legally-guaranteed for all agricultural products and farmers.
SKM also said that it will continue to organise protests against anti-farmer policies of the BJP government.
Meanwhile, BJP chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had to face a protest from local farmers in his native district of Udham Singh Nagar. Dhami had reached Kiccha in Udham Singh Nagar to take part in birthday celebration of BJP MLA Rajesh Shukla, and for using the occasion to inaugurate several development schemes. Protesting farmers initially gathered at the mandi but later reached the helipad that was being used by the CM.
Farmer leaders here declared that they will show their opposition and resistance with black flag protests against BJP leaders here and elsewhere and will intensify such protests in the coming days.
The Morcha has also reminded the Uttar Pradesh government that payment of compensation to persons injured in Lakhimpur Kheri is still pending.
