Farmers, protesting against the Land Acquisition Bill for the last four days at Jantar Mantar here, today called off their agitation after seeking President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention to stall Centre's move.
Five members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) today submitted a memorandum at President's office and urged him not to give his assent to any ordinance or ammendments bill related to land acquisition.
In its three-page memorandum, addressed to President of India and signed by the top office bearers of BKU, the union urged the President to intervene urgently in the matter so that the "benefit" of the farmers can be looked into.
"Sir, you have already cautioned the government on the ordinance route being adopted in January 2015 itself. We urge you not to sign on any ordinance related to land acquisition now since this is the first time the nation is debating this issue intensely both inside and outside Parliament, and there cannot be unhealthy shortcuts taken by the government to such democratic process," the memorandum said.
BKU called off its four-day protest at Jantar Mantar, where thousands of farmers had gathered to demand scrapping of "anti-farmers" policies including land acquisition bill/ordinance.
Highlighting the main concerns of the farmers, national coordinator and member secretary of BKU said, "We are fighting with Union government over six points that are going to be very detrimental. Quashing of Land Acquisition Bill/Ordinance, hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP), creating a proper mechanism to compensate farmers in case of natural calamity, waiver in loans given to the farmers, setting up of Farmers' Pay Commission that would ensure the minimum income of farmers and finally rejecting Shanta Kumar Committee's report that has recommended re-structuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI).
