Former governor Satyapal Malik urges farmers to unite against corporate dominance

Patiala: Former governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik has urged farmers to unite against corporate control of agriculture and called for the resumption of cross-border trade between India and Pakistan.Speaking at Kirti Kisan Forum and Patiala Welfare Society's discussion on farmers' issues here on Saturday, Malik warned the farmers that corporate dominance in the agricultural sector threatened their livelihoods. He alleged that a leading business house had constructed massive storage facilities in Panipat to monopolise the rice trade, which he claimed to be against the national interest. "As a result, farmers are being denied minimum support price (MSP), even though it costs the govt nothing. There are deep conspiracies to end farming, and all organisations should unite to fight this. I stand with the farmers wholeheartedly," he said.Call for policy reformsMalik, who has also served as the governor of Meghalaya, stressed the need for unity, citing the 2020 farmers' agitation at Delhi's borders, where mass protests had forced the Centre to repeal contentious agri-marketing laws. He noted that while the earlier movement had succeeded due to a unified front, the ongoing protests lacked cohesion. "The farmers will only succeed if they pressure the govt collectively," he said. Malik also criticised the Centre's policy of acquiring farmland for expressways. He also claimed that re-opening cross-border trade with Pakistan through road routes will benefit landlocked states like Punjab.Retired inspector general Ranbir Singh Khatra, who led the event along with advocate Satbir Singh Khatra, lauded Malik's support for farmers.Patiala: Former governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satyapal Malik has urged farmers to unite against corporate control of agriculture and called for the resumption of cross-border trade between India and Pakistan.Speaking at Kirti Kisan Forum and Patiala Welfare Society's discussion on farmers' issues here on Saturday, Malik warned the farmers that corporate dominance in the agricultural sector threatened their livelihoods. He alleged that a leading business house had constructed massive storage facilities in Panipat to monopolise the rice trade, which he claimed to be against the national interest. "As a result, farmers are being denied minimum support price (MSP), even though it costs the govt nothing. There are deep conspiracies to end farming, and all organisations should unite to fight this. I stand with the farmers wholeheartedly," he said.Call for policy reformsMalik, who has also served as the governor of Meghalaya, stressed the need for unity, citing the 2020 farmers' agitation at Delhi's borders, where mass protests had forced the Centre to repeal contentious agri-marketing laws. He noted that while the earlier movement had succeeded due to a unified front, the ongoing protests lacked cohesion. "The farmers will only succeed if they pressure the govt collectively," he said. Malik also criticised the Centre's policy of acquiring farmland for expressways. He also claimed that re-opening cross-border trade with Pakistan through road routes will benefit landlocked states like Punjab.Retired inspector general Ranbir Singh Khatra, who led the event along with advocate Satbir Singh Khatra, lauded Malik's support for farmers.
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