Letter to General Secretary CPI-M - Convene Kerala Legislature to pass a resolution and to frame state laws to protect farmers rights | Dec 17, 2020

To
Sitaram Yecuhuri
General Secretary
CPI(M), New Delhi

[December 17, 2020]

Dear comrade

Sub: Three controversial farm bills passed by the Union Govt. Convening a special session of Kerala Legislature to pass a resolution and to frame state laws to protect farmers rights- your immediate intervention requested

The farmers’ agitation against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act 2020, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 is gaining momentum.

Agriculture, farm markets and agricultural land are state subjects coming under the seventh schedule of the constitution. As you are aware, violating the constitutional principles and our federal structure, the intention of the Union government is to serve the interests of the multinational corporations. The framers of our constitution purposefully included agriculture in list ll considering the food diversity, geographical-climatic peculiarities and diverse land-use patterns of various culturally and socially diverse states. Hence, the policy of ’one India one market’ is undoubtedly a violation of the constitution and the principles of federalism.

Further, the new acts abrogate the right to appeal to civil court for redressal of grievances. This specific clause violates the fundamental right of the citizen and the essence of international human right declarations.

The new farm laws remove government control over the marketing of farm produce, allow free play of corporations, legalise contract farming, discontinue procurement of foodgrains through FCI and disrupt the public distribution system. Farmers bear the repercussions of these changes.

In response to the farmers’ protests, the Punjab legislature on 20th October, the Chattisgarh legislature on October 27th and the Rajasthan legislature on Nov 3rd have already convened special assembly sessions to pass resolutions against the new laws. Additionally, they have also enacted laws to protect farmers and submitted them for governors’ approval.

The Left Democratic Front in Kerala has already declared their position against the new anti-people farm laws. The State of Kerala would be at the receiving end of a deteriorating public distribution system. Moreover, your party is at the forefront of the Kisan struggle. We understand that it is your stated objective to effectively use the state government as a powerful tool against the anti-people policies of the central government. Therefore, we request your intervention to convene a special session of the Kerala state assembly and pass a resolution against these laws. We also propose the enactment of strong alternative state laws that protect farmers and the public from the potential draconian legislations likely to be drafted by the Union Government.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

• P T John (Rashtreeya Kisan Mahasangh South Indian co-ordinator)
• K Ajitha ( Anweshi)
• Dr S Faisy
• CR Neelakandan
• M Geethanandan
• Sunny M Kapikkad
• Prof Kusum joseph (NAPM State co-ordinator)
• N Subrahmanian
• Sreedhar R
• M Shajarkhan (Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi)
• Vijayaraghavan Cheliya ( Lohya Vichara Vedi)
• Thomas Kalappura ( Fair Trade Kerala)
• Jackson PoIIayil ( Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilali Federation)
• Jagatheesh Kalathil
• Pankajakshan(Vaidha Maha sabha )
• Ad.John Joseph (voters alliance)
• Vilayodi Venugopal (Plachimada Samara Sam ithi)
• KP lIlyas (Jaiva Karshaka Samithi)
• George Mullakkara
• S Babuji (Pashchimaghata Samrakshana Ekopana Sam ithi)
• Biju V Jacob
• Ambalatharal Kunhikrishnan (Endosulfan Peeditha jana keeya munnani)