Multinational conglomerate Adani Group made a bold decision to publish a whole front-page advertisement in Punjab’s local Hindi daily newspaper ‘Punjab Kesari’ on December 18, 2020.
The Hindi advertisement translates into, “Raise voice against this disinformation [regarding the three farm Acts.] Know the truth.”
The ad then goes on to praise India’s farmers as the protectors and providers of the country followed by a list of “What are the lies and what is the truth?” about the Adani Group.
The list includes counter points that explain how the company doesn’t buy directly from farmers but helps Food Corporation of India (FCI) by building and maintaining storage infrastructure. It further states that the company does not engage in contract farming, and only acquires land for grain storage silos.
Earlier the Working Group of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) had called for a nationwide boycott of all Adani and Ambani products. On December 20, leaders called for a special boycott of Fortune branded products that are the agriculture based items of Adani.
However, Punjab had begun the boycott of Adani and Ambani products long before any other state in October. The state-wide disposal of Ambani’s Jio-sim cards was dubbed the ‘Sim Satyagraha.’
Yet Adani decided to publish the advertisement on Friday mere days before farmers’ Homage Day for martyred protesters. The attempt wasn’t well-received on social media because many considered it yet another attempt to trivialise the farmers’ struggle.
Oh, ads by Adani too, eh? Next, Reliance? pic.twitter.com/wIPBsiK8wm
— Karthik (@beastoftraal) December 19, 2020
People condemned the action as an indirect manner of advocating the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
During a press conference last week, Maharashtra farmer leader Sandeep Gidde said people across state borders were boycotting Adani products.
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