Kochi : Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, a platform of 182 farmer groups, on Tues-day warned of intensifying agitation if the Cen-tre goes ahead with negotiations with other ASE-AN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries over the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement.
“The NDA government has failed to protect farmers’ interest. The RECP free trade agreement negotiation is in the last stage and the government will sign it soon. The negotiations are happening without consulting stake holders including farmers,” said Sivak-umar Kakkaji, National Convener of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM).
“We call upon the government to send withdrawal notice to the member countries and present the notice in the parliament before the elections. Otherwise, the RKM will strongly campaign against the NDA’s anti-farmer policy in the coming parliament elections,” he said.
The RKM has joined hands with anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare to hold simultaneous agitations in 17 states, including Kerala, demanding the Centre government to implement M.S. Swam-inathan Commission’s recommendations among others on January 30.
“The BJP government failed to walk the talk. It promised many measures like complete farm loan waiver in its election manifesto back in 2014 but never implemented the same,” he said.
The protest in the state will be held before the Palakkad collectorate.
