Karnataka farmers’ organisation demands State Government to clarify its stance on withdrawing amendments to farm-related laws introduced by BJP

KRRS urges Karnataka Government to clarify stance on Land Reforms Act and APMC Act amendments, expressing concern over delay in repealing anti-farmer BJP policies.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) president Badagalpura Nagendra and other leaders have urged the State Government to clarify its position on withdrawing the amendments to Land Reforms Act and APMC Act introduced by the previous BJP government.

The KRRS has expressed concern that the policies of the ruling Congress government with regard to agriculture seem to be a continuation of what was pursued by the BJP, which was ousted from power in the State in the 2023 Assembly elections.

The KRRS drew the attention of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the BJP’s attempts to encourage corporatisation of agriculture under the guise of doubling farmers’ income.

“When the BJP tried to hand over agricultural land and market to corporates, 562 farmers’ organisations in the country united and staged a protest in Delhi for over a year,” said the KRRS.

In Karnataka, too, the then BJP government passed a slew of amendments to open up the agricultural sector to corporate companies and this included amendment to the Land Reforms Act and the APMC Act.

Mr. Nagendra pointed out that the Congress was in the Opposition at that time and it had also opposed the amendments ushered in by the BJP. “You had extended support to the farmers and sought to fight the government policy together,” Mr. Nagendra added.

“’But it is disconcerting that after coming to power, the Government has not yet repealed them and the policies passed by the previous BJP Government remain in vogue,” said Mr. Nagendra.