As many as 144 APMC yards across the State will remain closed from Wednesday as a mark of protest against the recent amendment to APMC Act. APMC yard action committee has called for an indefinite bundh demanding the State government to withdraw the amendment, which allows entry of multi-national companies into the retail marketing of agro-products.
The Bangalore APMC Yard Action Committee Vice-Chairman Ramesh Chandra Lahoti said APMC markets in Yeshwanthpur and in Singena Agrahar (Hosur Road) in Bangalore will remain closed.
Agro traders will hold dharna in APMC yards. A meeting of traders will be convened at Yeshwanthpur APMC yard on Wednesday. Mr Lahoti said that retail traders are the first people to be affected by the amendment. They have also extended support to the bundh call.
Support
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene have supported the bundh. Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar in a release said the State government has done injustice to the agro-producers by bringing in the amendment without discussing it with farmers’ organisations.
“The amendment is a death knell to farmers and agro-producers. The Government should withdraw it,” he demanded.
Communist Party of India too has supported the bundh.