Social activist Albee Khan had come from Howrah’s Pilkhana, businessman Umar Awais who stays in Rajabazar shut his business for a day, retired sales professional Amitava Chakraborty came from Metropolitan off the EM Bypass against general advice for elderly to stay at home during the pandemic.

About five hundred people from various walks of life matched steps in a rally between Rajabazar and Moulali on Friday afternoon to protest against the three farm laws enacted by the Centre and in solidarity with farmers who have been camping on the borders of Delhi demanding that the laws be repealed.

Albee Khan

The Calcuttans iterated the demands made by the farmers — repeal the three laws and do not leave farmers at the mercy of “a few oligarchs”.

Amitava Chakraborty

“I came only to attend this rally. If we cannot protect our farmers, its impact will come on us too,” said Albee, who was in the front row of the rally. “The Centre is trying to hand over the agricultural sector to a few large corporate houses and we will not let that happen,” she added with a firmness in her voice.

Chakraborty, 65, said that the new farm laws will drive more farmers towards suicide. The clauses of the new laws are such that the farmers have to be content with whatever price they are offered by the corporates. “Farmer suicides are very common in our country. Farmers are forced to kill themselves because of huge debts, because they cannot recover their investment. The new laws will make their economic conditions worse and drive more farmers towards suicide,” he said.

A group of people who took part in a sit-in against the National Register for Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act from January to March before the pandemic forced them to call off the protest, gave the call for Friday’s rally.

Around 500 people from various walks of life march in a rally from Rajabazar to Moulali on Friday afternoon to protest the three farm laws enacted by the Centre. Telegraph picture

The rally was held under the banner of United Forum for National Integrity.

Protests, marches and meetings against NRC-CAA as well as the three farm laws have been taking place in Calcutta since the lockdown restrictions were eased. Most of the protesters are common people without any political affiliation. The protests are again drawing spontaneous outpouring of people.

Friday’s rally started at 2pm from Rajabazar. Slogans like yeh kanoon wapas lo, kala kanoon wapas lo were raised by the protesters.

The demonstrators blocked the Moulali crossing for five minutes. A street side meeting at Moulali followed the march.

Awais added that he was also particularly opposed to withdrawing the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism and allowing hoarding of essential commodities under the new laws.

“The large companies will buy off very huge quantities from the farmers and then sell them at a price they wish. The bill will not only impact farmers, but each and everyone of us,” he said.