MAPUSA
The Congress on Saturday said the new farm laws will sound the death knell for the Food Corporation of India and shut down market yards in the State and across the country.
“The market sub yards offered a facility for farmers to stock and sell their produce. With the new farm laws, the market yards will be shut and no farmer will now bring his stock here. Big corporate houses will take the stock from the farmer,” said Digambar Kamat, Leader of Opposition.
He was addressing the media while taking part in the protest against farm laws which he said were against the farmers.
The party also remembered the birth anniversary of former union home minister Vallabhbhai Patel and the death anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi.
Congress leaders Amarnath Panjikar, Vijay Bhike, Bholanath Gadi and members of the Mahila and Youth Congress also took part in the protest.
Speaking further, Kamat said the Mapusa market yard was set up when he was the chairman of the agriculture board.
He said the market yards were established across the country as a facility for farmers who could stock their produce and auction and sell it for a good price.
“With the new farm laws, these auctions that were happening in Mapsua yard will not happen now,” he said. According to the opposition leader, the farm laws will eliminate the Food Corporation of India in the long run.
“The Food Corporation of India which procures grains from farmers will be eliminated just like the BSNL is going into oblivion,” he said.
Kamat said Congress welcomed institutes like IIT and AIMS in the State but before setting up such projects the government should consult the people.
He said former PM Manmohan Singh had sanctioned the National Institute for Technology (NIT) for Goa when he (Kamat) was the chief minister of the State.
“We first thought of setting it up in Canacona but people from the area opposed it and held gram sabhas against the setting up of the NIT. I told them if they are against it we will take it to some other place. We do not believe in bringing the police and work against the people,” he said.
