Over 850 academics sign open letter in support of farm laws

New Delhi: More than 850 faculty members of various educational institutions across the country have come forward with a signature campaign in support of three contentious farm laws, against which thousands of farmers are protesting on borders of the national capital for over a month.

In an open letter, these individuals have said they strongly believe in the government's assurance to farmers that their livelihood would be protected and the food would not be taken away from their plates.

They further said that the new laws would free farm trade from all restrictions and enable farmers to do all transactions at competitive prices. "The Union government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three bills on farm trade wouldn't do away with Minimum Support Price (MSP), but rather free the farm trade from all illicit market restrictions, open the market beyond 'mandis' and further assists the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at market/competitive prices," the letter signed by 866 persons said.

These included faculty members and other functionaries of Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, JNU, among other educational institutions. "... We stand in solidarity with both the government and the farmers and salute their intense efforts," the letter said.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin on Friday urged Chief Minister K Palaniswami to convene a special Assembly session to pass a resolution to demand repeal of the three central farm laws by the Union government. In a letter to Palaniswami, the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly said that after the Punjab Assembly, Kerala Assembly too had passed a similar resolution on Thursday.

Stalin said that it was a compulsion of time to be on the side of the farmers protesting on the Delhi borders against the three laws.

He said that Tamil Nadu was the first state to write off loans of farmers and give free power to them. Hence, the state should stand by the farmers in their difficult times, the opposition leader added. Palaniswami is a vocal supporter of the three farm laws and claimed that these were beneficial for farmers. Meanwhile, a farmer protesting against the farm laws at the Ghazipur border, passed away on Friday morning, according to BKU.