Traders to protest against amendment to APMC Act

The trade and commerce fraternity will observe a statewide bandh on June 7 to protest amendment to the APMC Act. At a meeting of traders and members of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry held at Hubli on Saturday the members opposed the state government's move to amend the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) Act.

They alleged that it was aimed at facilitating the MNCs to enter the agricultural produce market.

They said that the amendment will defeat the very purpose of the formation of APMC.

President of KCCI Shankaranna Munavalli said the amendment to APMC Act will render the APMCs useless and pave way for foreign 'raj'. The APMCs were created at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore across the state. Lakhs of people working in APMCs will be rendered jobless, he contended.

He lashed out at the elected representatives for not raising their voice against the injustice being done to the farmers and traders. Various farmers' organisations have also opposed the proposed amendment.

Referring to the statement of agricultural marketing minister Prakash Hukkeri that he will discuss the possibility of amending the act with the farmers and traders, Munavalli said there was no need to discuss anything and the government should drop the move to amend the Act.

The meeting decided to intensify the agitation if the government went ahead with the amendment.