Writers, academicians demand repeal of laws on land, APMC in Karnataka
The Hindu
They also demanded a statutory order ensuring Minimum Support Price for farm produce
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on repealing three contentious farm laws, many writers, activists and academicians asked the Karnataka Government to withdraw the newly-amended Land Reforms Act and the APMC Act for the benefit of farmers.
The APMC Act removed restrictions on sale of farm produce and allowed private players to purchase agricultural commodities from farmers. However, farmers’ organisations termed the Act as ‘anti-farmer’ alleging that it aimed at clipping the powers of APMCs and permitted the entry of MNCs in the agricultural marketing sector. The amended Land Reforms Act removed income restrictions on purchase of agricultural land and permitted non-agriculturists to purchase agricultural land.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.