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NO BREAKTHROUGH IN TALKS AS FARMERS REMAIN ‘ADAMANT’ ON COMPLETE ROLLBACK

January 5, 2021, 3:10 am

After the eighth round of talks, the Centre could not reach any “solution” as the farmer unions remained “adamant” over repealing of three farm laws, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday.

“We wanted farmer unions to discuss three laws clause-wise. We could not reach any solution as farmer unions remained adamant on the repeal of the laws,” Tomar told reporters here this evening at Vigyan Bhawan. However, the minister said that he is “hopeful” that a solution will be found in the next round of talks which will be held on 8 January at 2 pm.

“Looking at today’s discussion, I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting and we will come to a conclusion,” he said.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, held the talks with the representatives of 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Yudhvir Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Union said that they want a complete rollback of farm laws. “The minister wanted us to discuss the law point-wise. We rejected it and said that there is no point in discussing the laws because we want a complete rollback of the laws. The government intends to take us towards amendments but we will not accept it,” he said while addressing the reporters here after the meeting.

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash along with government officials and representatives of farmers also observed a two-minute silence for farmers who died during the ongoing protest.

After the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union said that farmers, who are protesting for over a month against three agriculture laws at different borders of the national capital will not go back until the Acts are repealed. “Discussion took place on our demands — repeal of the three laws and MSP… Kannon wapasi nahi, to ghar wapasi nahi (We will not go home until the laws are withdrawn),” Tikait told news agency ANI.

Earlier, Tikait claimed that 60 farmers have so far lost their lives during the ongoing agitation. He further said that one farmer is dying every 16 hours and it is the government’s responsibility to give an answer.

Farmers have been protesting at the gates of Delhi since 26 November last year against the newly enacted farm laws—Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance, and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms and aimed at increasing farmers’ income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the MSP and “mandi” (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations. The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out repealing the laws.

Farmers to hold tractor rally on 6 January if Monday talks fail

January 2, 2021, 3:24 am

Farmers’ organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, after a meeting at the Singhu border, on Friday said that if the talks with the government on 4 January fail then they will intensify the protest and hold a tractor rally on 6 January.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal told IANS, “The topics of the next round of talks with the government were discussed in the meeting. The government has agreed to our two demands, but two important demands are yet to be discussed on January 4. If these two demands are not negotiated during the talks with the government, then a tractor rally will be taken out on January 6.”

Friday marked the 37th day of the farmers’ protest against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Production and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. The farmers are demanding withdrawal of all the three laws, while the government has agreed to amend the laws as per the suggestions of the farmers. The farmers will be taking up the issue during the 6th round of talks with the government.

The leaders of the farmers’ organisations also held talks on four issues with the government on Wednesday, of which the government has accepted two demands while the other two, withdrawal of the three laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), are still to be addressed.

Amid farm protests, Rahul Gandhi goes on personal trip abroad

December 28, 2020, 3:20 am

New Delhi: Amid ongoing farm protests, when several Opposition leaders are making a beeline to show their solidarity with farmers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has gone out of the country on a personal visit, the party said on Sunday. He will also miss the party’s 136th Foundation Day programme on 28 December.

“Rahul Gandhi is currently travelling on a short personal trip,” Congress general secretary and communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala told ANI on Sunday.

According to top party sources, Rahul Gandhi left the country on Sunday morning and will be away for few days.

He is travelling amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation against new agricultural laws. Rahul Gandhi led a delegation which met President Ram Nath Kovind on 17 December and submitted the memorandum along with a purported 2 crore signatures of the farmers against the recently enacted laws.

The Congress MP also did not attend the meeting of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) leaders to review the party’s performance in the local body elections. The state in-charge Tariq Anwar who is on a tour of Kerala is taking review meeting on the issue.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has asked all its state units to observe the party’s foundation day on 28 December through various campaigns including organising ‘Tiranga Yatras’ and running a social media campaign ‘Selfie with Tiranga’.

“December 28 marks the 136th year of the foundation of Indian National Congress (INC). On this day, the PCCs are requested to observe the party foundation day in state and district headquarters and instruct office-bearers, MPs, MLAs/MLCs to participate in the functions,” the AICC said in a press release.

Farmer leaders from UP, Delhi meet Tomar, extend support to farm laws

December 23, 2020, 2:46 am

NEW DELHI: Members of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Noida, and Indian Kisan Union, New Delhi, on Tuesday met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and said that the new farm laws were in the interest of farmers and should not be taken back.

The minister said in tweets that the delegations gave a memorandum in support of the new farm laws and said they will improve the condition of farmers. “Today, the representatives of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh and Indian Kisan Union, New Delhi, gave a memorandum in support of the new agrarian reform bills and thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji,” he said.

“They said that the new agricultural laws brought by the Modi government are in the interest of the farmers and these laws are going to improve the condition of the farmers and should not be withdrawn,” he added.

The minister told the media that the farmers’ delegation said that no changes should be made in the law. “Some farmer leaders met me today to extend their support to the farm laws. They said that no amendments should be made in the three laws,” he said.

Farmers have been protesting on Delhi borders since November 26 against the three farm laws—the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

WITH ANI INPUTS

FARMERS TO GO ON 24-HR RELAY HUNGER STRIKE, URGE PEOPLE TO SKIP ONE MEAL ON KISAN DIWAS

December 21, 2020, 3:43 am

Taking a further stringent posture against the Centre’s farm laws, farmer unions on Sunday announced a 24-hour relay hunger strike starting from Monday, and appealed to citizens to skip a meal on 23 December on the occasion of ‘Kisan Diwas’.

While addressing a press conference at the Singhu border, Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said that the hunger strike will take place in groups of 11 and appealed to unions in other parts of the country to also do so according to their strength. “In order to take the movement forward, farmers will be on a 24-hour relay hunger strike at all the sites. We appeal to farmers protesting across the country to take part. Here, a group of 11 people will sit for a day, followed by another 11. Others protest sites can do so according to their strength,” Yadav said.

Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, further appealed to farmers to skip a meal on the Kisan Diwas, birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh as a gesture of gratitude in remembrance of their ‘annadatta’ and the movement.

Tikait said that union workers would reach out to allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ask them why they are supporting the farm laws. “We will reach out to the BJP and its allies and ask them if they are supporting the farm laws. If they are, we will ask them why and accordingly decide the future course of action,” he said.

He further questioned the alleged raids being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate on the participants and supporters of the farmers’ protest. “If the ED is raiding the singers who are attending the farmers’ protest, then what is stopping them from raiding businessmen and corrupt officials?” he told ANI.

Leaders of several farmers’ unions also appealed to people in the country to bang utensils to drown out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on December 27 to show their support for the movement.

The farmer leader further said that they had also decided to make the Haryana toll plaza free from 25 December to 27 December.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of Delhi since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

PM VISITS GURDWARA, PAYS TRIBUTE TO GURU TEGH BAHADUR AMID FARM PROTESTS

December 21, 2020, 3:32 am

New Delhi: In an unscheduled visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi on Sunday morning. The PM’s visit came at a time when the farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, are leading massive protests against the new farm laws introduced by the Central government.

PM Modi paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur and recalled the ninth Sikh Guru’s vision for a just and inclusive society. While bowing to the Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Prime Minister said that the Sikh guru’s life epitomised courage and compassion.

The Prime Minister shared pictures on his official Twitter handle of his unscheduled visit to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. “This morning, I prayed at the historic Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, where the pious body of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was cremated. I felt extremely blessed. I, like millions around the world, am deeply inspired by the kindnesses of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji,” PM Modi tweeted.

“It is the special Kripa of the Guru Sahibs that we will mark the special occasion of the 400th Parkash Parv of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji during our Government’s tenure. Let us mark this blessed occasion in a historic way and celebrate the ideals of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji,” he added.

As seen in the pictures, the Prime Minister was wearing a bright yellow kurta along with an orange waistcoat and orange cloth to cover his head.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Guru of the Sikh religion.

PM Modi prayed at the Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, interacted with Sikh religious leaders there and obliged visitors seeking to take pictures with him.

Political analysts see it as another symbolic reach out by the Prime Minister to the protesting farmers, who mainly hail from Sikh-dominated Punjab and neighbouring Haryana. These farmers have blocked highways into New Delhi for the past three weeks demanding a repeal of the laws, which the government says widen the agriculture market and are crucial to boost storage and other infrastructure.

The protesters have repeatedly rebuffed PM Modi and his ministers’ attempts to reach a compromise. They have been protesting at different borders of Delhi since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

PM MODI FLAYS OPPOSITION, SAYS FARM LAWS NOT MADE OVERNIGHT

December 19, 2020, 5:05 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday criticised the Opposition for misleading farmers to oppose the three farm laws, claiming that these laws have not been introduced overnight, and that the Centre and state governments had detailed discussions on these reforms over the last 20 to 30 years.

“Farm Laws have not been introduced overnight. Over the last 20-30 years, central government and state governments had detailed discussions on these reforms. Agriculture experts, economists and progressive farmers have been demanding reforms,” said PM Modi while addressing farmers at the ‘Kisan Kalyan’ event in Raisen through video conferencing.

The Prime Minister said that Opposition parties were playing games to regain lost political ground by creating a web of confusion and lies. “I wish to tell all political parties that they can keep political credit. I don’t want credit. I only want the lives of Indian farmers to be easy, want their prosperity, and modernity in farming. Stop misleading them, stop confusing them,” he said.

Also Read: We’re ready to change whatever is anti-farmer: Nitin Gadkari to kisan unions

Taking a dig at his opponents without naming any party, the PM said that he felt that they were pained not by the improvements brought about in the agricultural laws by his government but by the fact that Modi had been able to do what they had been saying all these years but could not do.

He also listed the advantages of the new agricultural laws enacted in September. “These agrarian reform laws atone for the sins committed in the past decades by tying farmers to agricultural ‘mandis’ only. I can say with confidence that there is no reason for mistrust or room for lies in the recent agricultural reforms we have brought about.”

Referring to the problems farmers faced in the past, Modi said: “Today, there is no news about shortage of urea; farmers do not have to face batons of police to buy urea. We have worked with sincerity to remove this problem of farmers. I will like to remind farmers about the urea situation in the past. Remember, what the situation was 7-8 years ago? Whether farmers had to stand in queues overnight to buy urea or not? In many places, were there news about lathi-charge on farmers or not?”

PM Modi also hit out at the Congress, saying that the debt waiver by Congress governments was the biggest example of how farmers were cheated. “When elections were to be held in Madhya Pradesh two years ago, a loan waiver was promised within 10 days. Debts of how many farmers were waived?” he asked.

The Prime Minister also asked the farmers to seek answers from those who had been advocating these agricultural reforms intheir poll manifestos but did nothing. “If the old manifestos of all political parties are brought out, their past statements heard, and the official letters from those who earlier handled agriculture seen, then the agricultural reforms brought today are no different from theirs. My government is dedicated to the farmers and considers them as ‘annadatas’.”

“We took out the Swaminathan Committee report that was dumped in a pile of files and implemented its recommendations, gave MSP of one and a half times the input cost to farmers. These people (opposition) ensured that their governments did not have to spend much on farmers. They merely used farmers for their own politics,” the Prime Minister said.

“Today, several farmers have been given a Kisan Credit Card. Earlier, they were not available to all farmers. But we changed rules to make Kisan Credit Card available to all farmers across the country,” said PM Modi.

The PM’s statement comes at the time when farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since 26 November against three newly enacted farm laws—Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

HELP FAMILIES OF FARMERS PARTICIPATING IN PROTEST: SUKHBIR TO SAD CADRE

December 17, 2020, 6:59 am

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to the party rank and file to actively assist the families of farmers engaged in the ongoing agitation at the Delhi border by helping them in their agricultural operations as well as aid in looking after their animals.

Badal made this appeal after a meeting of the senior leadership during which it was pointed out that the wheat crop was due for irrigation as well as application of fertiliser. Accordingly, the SAD chief requested the entire rank and file of the party to assist farmers who were unable to tend to their fields because of the ongoing protest.

Meanwhile, the SAD on Wednesday said that the Centre should handle administrative matters and resolve the deadlock with farmers to their satisfaction instead of depending on pleas to lift the congregation of peaceful farmers from the borders of Delhi.

In a statement, party spokesperson and former Punjab Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said that such pleas only highlighted the failure of the NDA government which was trying to use the Supreme Court to lift a peaceful and democratic protest.

He said that instead of this the government could have arrived at a solution in Parliament by discussing the issue threadbare and repealing the three agricultural Acts. The SAD leader said that it was unfortunate that the Central government had run away from discussing the issue in Parliament by scrapping the winter session altogether.

FARMER LEADERS DON’T WANT SOLUTION, MOVEMENT IS ANTI-FARMER: ATHAWALE

December 16, 2020, 3:30 am

Union minister Ramdas Athawale, in an interview with news agency IANS, said that farmers will suffer the most if the three farm laws are withdrawn. He, however, added that everyone has the right to protest in a democracy.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Athawale said, “The solution to the peasant movement can be found. But the leaders of the farmers are not ready. When there is a dialogue between the agitators and the government, the two sides will have to take two steps back. Then the middle path can be found. But the movement has created a deadlock due to politics.”

Athawale emphasised on finding a solution to the movement through dialogue. He said, “The government is ready to make amendments. Even then, if the farmer leaders continue to adopt a stubborn attitude by adding new demands, then they will harm the farmers only. I think this is an anti-farmer movement.”

A Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra and the national president of the Republican Party of India (A), an ally of the NDA, Athawale said that he has full sympathy with the farmers who had been agitating along the Delhi borders for several days in the cold.

The government is also sensitive to the problems of the farmers. A proposal is being made by the government, and farmer leaders should also consider this proposal positively, he said.

The minister said, “When Narendra Modi has become Prime Minister twice on the strength of the farmers, why would he bring a Bill against the farmers? Farmers’ income has been doubled. If someone wants to sell outside, they should get the rights. Given all these points, the three new agricultural laws have been brought in the interest of the states.”

The new law does not contain any provision to close the markets, he said, adding that the MSP will continue as before. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reiterated the same. The role of the government is to help the farmers and farmer leaders should also come up with a compromise formula, he added.

The farmers from Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh have been sitting on protest at the Delhi-Haryana’s Singhu and Tikri border and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border for the last 20 days. Several rounds of talks between the farmers and the government have failed to yield any result.

The three laws are The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. They had first come in the month of June as the three Ordinances before being approved by Parliament during the Monsoon Session by a voice vote.

Farmers’ agitation resulting in Rs 3,500 cr daily loss: Assocham

December 16, 2020, 3:23 am

As the farmers’ protest entered the 21st day and no end in sight of a breakthrough, industry body Assocham has urged the government and farmers’ bodies to resolve the impasse over the farm laws as it is resulting in a loss of Rs3,500 crore per day. As per the release, ongoing protests are dealing a big blow to the interconnected economies of the region, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

According to the chamber, around two-thirds of consignments in transit are taking 50% extra time to reach their destinations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR. In addition, transport vehicles are forced to travel up to 50% longer to reach Delhi from the warehouses in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Punjab. “The size of the combined economies of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K is about Rs 18 lakh crore.

With the ongoing farmers’ agitation and blockade of roads, toll plazas and railways, the economic activities have come to a halt. Industries such as textiles, auto components, bicycles, sports goods which cater significantly to the export markets would not be able to fulfil their orders, ahead of Christmas, harming our goodwill amongst the global buyers,” Assocham president Niranjan Hiranandani said.

Nikhil Sawhney, chairman of Assocham, Northern Region, said: “Farmers’ protest may push logistics cost by up to 8-10%. Many companies in the industrial belt surrounding Delhi are facing labour shortages as people struggle to reach production facilities from neighbouring towns. The ongoing farm agitation requires an immediate amicable solution as it is impacting not only the economic growth but also putting a huge dent to the supply chain which is affecting the large and small industries alike.”

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has said that farmers’ protest may impact economic recovery. The continuous distress by farmers’ protests in many parts of India has led to disruption in supply chains and logistics. They urged the government and protesting farmers “to find an amicable solution for the sake of the economy, which is already struggling to get on a growth trajectory”, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the CII said in a statement on Monday.

The farmers’ protests, which have intensified over the past couple of weeks, have led to obstruction of traffic and road blockades across multiple checkpoints in the northern states of Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and in a smaller measure across many other states. The already broken supply chain which was recovering post the lockdown has come under severe stress.

The impact of the agitation is more acute for industries in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, which are dependent on goods transported by road. There is also uncertainty around the transportation of farm products to the major markets of Delhi-NCR, and it could lead to significant losses to the farm sector in these states.

Tourism, a major revenue and livelihood source in these states, is likely to get adverse effects at a crucial time when the sector is looking forward to regain, some momentum following the unlocking of the economy.

No question of rolling back farm laws: MoS Home Kishan Reddy

December 15, 2020, 2:16 am

Hyderabad: As farmers’ protests are intensifying in north India, BJP leaders have decided to bring the “facts” before people. G. Kishan Reddy, MoS Home, said that some people are spreading propaganda against the Modi government without even reading the laws, and termed the protests abroad as “motivated with ill intention”.

He said, “Why do they protest in the US or UK or somewhere else? What are their interests there? They are motivated by some selfish interests. We have made laws to benefit the farmers. We want their income doubled; there is no question of removing MSP. There has been no MSP for 70 years, but we want to guarantee the MSP. As son of a farmer, I can understand their problems. Now the farmers are free to sell their produce anywhere in the country and there are no travel restrictions.”

He further added that the BJP has come to power with a huge mandate from farmers and the bills are beneficial to them. “Agriculture must be profitable since 60-70% of the people depend on it and it’s going to be a big booster for the country’s economy as the government wants to double the income of farmers. The laws are essential,’ he said. Reddy added that there is no question of rolling back the laws under any circumstances, but amendments are required on the request of “real farmers”.

Kishan Reddy said that the Congress had mentioned in its manifesto about similar farm laws; now, with selfish motives, it has taken a U-turn. He said that except in Punjab, all farmers are welcoming the laws and added: “We have launched kisan trains. vegetables from Andhra and Telangana go in those trains to Delhi. Take for example tomatoes in Madanapalli of Andhra are sold one or two rupees per kilo and many farmers throw them on roads. Now they can send to Delhi in kishan trains. The mandi lobby in Punjab is agitating against the laws. Still, we will negotiate with them. We encourage the mandis and market yards, but the farmers should be given the chance to sell their produce wherever they have good price.”

On house protest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Reddy said: “So many are protesting and Delhi CM also has the right to protest. Let him do.”

On all opposition political parties opposing the Central government and participating in the protests called by the farmers, Reddy urged the farmers that they should discuss their issues with the government, as it is ready to talk over the three farm laws. Advising Rahul Gandhi to stay away from the farmers’ stir as he has been conspicuously absent from making an appearance at any of the protest sites, he said: “Rahul Gandhi neither understands farmers’ problems nor can address them.”

Reddy criticised the Congress for ignoring farmers’ issues during its seven-decade in power, and accused the party for the deaths of thousands of farmers who committed suicide due to various issues.

He refused to respond on the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Telangana CM KCR. He denied the news that there is going to be a “dawn of friendship” between BJP and TRS by saying the BJP is going to form government in Telangana after the Assembly polls in 2023.

DIALOGUE, NOT PROTESTS, IS THE WAY OUT FOR FARMERS

December 14, 2020, 2:50 am

India, as a country, has a sizable population which is still engaged in agriculture as a profession. The numbers are slightly above 40 percent of the total population. Thus, it is imperative for any government with a progressive outlook to look at their well being and see how their lives can be made better so they contribute to national good as a hugely potent force.

Traditionally, farmers have been seen as a high value vote bank and made to believe that they cannot aspire for more. This battle of perception was beautifully managed, with them being termed the annadaata, yet confined with shackles and not given the opportunity to grow and excel. These accepted shackles, which had become a way of their lives, need to be broken so that millions of farmers can be liberated. However, this can have political ramifications and a heavy price to pay.

There is an ecosystem in the country wherein some powerful political dynasties and their close associates have made fortunes exploiting primitive trade practices and laws. The economy works on cash flows and every intermediary gets his or her share of the cake as long as you are part of the chain.

It takes a lot of political will and a strong resolve to disturb the apple cart, and the Modi government has done a lot of things which have been on the backburner for decades in our country. This includes the One Rank One Pension scheme, the abrogation of Article 370, constructing the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, solving the issue of triple talaq, and so on. Their surgical strike on agriculture was for weeding out all intermediaries and let farmers have the full fruits of their labour, which they deserve. Three laws were enacted in the midst of the Covid crisis by the route of an ordinance. The laws are finite and clear and have been made with the purpose to eliminate middlemen and their cabal, and liberate agriculture and farmers in India, who even in tough Covid times delivered the best results.

But all changes have a unique character and it is never easy to accept them. They disrupt some honey pots and beehives. The new laws meant a few straightforward things. As a farmer, you no longer need to go to your local mandi. Local mandis remain in the system but the farmer now has the option of selling to any mandi they like, across the length and breadth of India, which eliminates the local trade heavyweights and their geographical monopolies. You can now sell to corporates or international buyers as well. This definitely gives more options to the farmers and breaks them free from age-old shackles, with a better future ahead full of prosperity. Any market which has opened in any sector of the country, like telecom, retail, space and defense, has benefitted its players and its ecological stakeholders.

But politics is an untameable beast, especially with politicians’ ambitions, which are skyrocketing and always looking for opportunities to go for the kill. Things have gotten more complex with the ISI and the dismantled Khalistani brigade trying to use this opportunity to turn it into an anti-Sikh protest, or at least paint a picture of all farmers across the country standing against these laws, where the biggest point of contention is the MSP, apart from questions about whether mandis will live and land be able to be mortgaged.

The mathematics around the MSP shows that only 6% of produce is bought under the MSP scheme by the government and 93% of the farm produce is sold in open markets. Hence, this is a problem for farmers pan-India and holds no ground. The other two points regarding mandis and land mortgage have been addressed by the government favourably and hence stand settled.

Protests are a viable course of action in any democracy for having your say, but unfortunately, the farmers got into blocking roads and disturbing life and commerce, disrupting economic activity and causing the country to lose millions of rupees per day. Citizens of Delhi—the common man who works hard to make ends meet – are finding it tough to adjust to this and make a living with road jams and blockades. Moreover, there are always enemies of the nation and people with vested interests who see these protests as fertile ground to run their agendas and flare passions. Needless to say, these protest sites can also be the new Covid hotspots and super-spreaders.

Protests and blockades might sound like powerful ideas and strong means to make your demands heard but the law of diminishing returns kicks in and the patience of the establishment and the citizens start hitting the roof. My right to protest cannot infringe on your right to live and lead a normal life. Such protests cross the Rubicon and start to impact the lives of common people and their livelihoods. We all share and cherish the same country, where you have the right to protest and the liberty to put your demands forward. But, at the same time, what happens to my liberty and right to earn and live?

History is a witness to the fact that such bandhs and blockades are no means to reach an end. Coexistence and productive dialogue are the only ways out. The farmers can raise their demands, not by blocking roads, but only through dialogue.

Bharat Bandh underscores need for repeal of farm laws: Capt Amarinder

December 9, 2020, 3:01 am

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the unity showcased by the farmers through the Bharat Bandh had underscored the need for repeal of the new farm laws, followed by a detailed discussion on agricultural reforms.

The Chief Minister asked why the Centre could not heed the demands of the farmers, agitating across the country, to scrap these laws and hold fresh talks with all stakeholders. “Had I been in their place I would not have taken a minute to accept my mistake and revoke the laws,” he said.

Asserting that the whole country was with the farmers, Captain Amarinder said that the Centre should allow the existing system to continue instead of scrapping the arhtiya and mandi system, as the farm laws were designed to do. “Why are they doing away with it? They should let the farmers decide what they want,” he said, adding that nobody was stopping private players from purchasing but it could not be allowed at the cost of the well-established system which had stood the farmers in good stead all these decades.

The Chief Minister further demanded to know why the Government of India was not willing to give legitimacy to MSP, if their assertion of not abolishing it was sincere. “MSP is our right,” he said, adding that “if MSP is not guaranteed and another political party, apart from the Congress and the BJP, which is promising to conform with the support price, comes to power at the Centre, then who will take the responsibility of the farmers getting their minimum due?” He pointed out that the foodgrains bought at MSP were pushed into the PDS to feed the country’s poor and all that would end if MSP goes.

Categorically rejecting the BJP’s allegation that the Congress manifesto had also talked to scrapping the APMC Act, the Chief Minister said his party or Dr Manmohan Singh government never said that the existing system should be discontinued. The Congress manifesto spoke about modernisation and not about doing away with what we have, he said.

Making it clear that nobody was against private players, the Chief Minister pointed out that he was even now in talks with the UAE for supply for wheat and rice, and the country wanted to create storage facilities in India, including Punjab. In fact, even in his last tenure as CM, he tried to launch the farm-to-fork programme to promote private investment in agriculture related fields like storage, cold chain, food processing etc within the existing system but the Akalis later shelved it.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Centre not to write off Punjab’s agricultural prowess. “Crises will come with population growing, and next year is being predicted as a drought year… the country needs us, as we proved even during Covid times when we sent out 50 trains a day to feed the poor,” he noted, urging the Centre not to be short-sighted. “India’s food problems are not going to end… Let us be the producers of your food,” he added.

OPPOSITION IS SPREADING MISINFORMATION, SAYS PRAKASH JAVADEKAR

December 9, 2020, 2:50 am

NEWS DELHI: Calling Opposition parties hypocrites, Union minister Prakash Javadekar, in an exclusive interview to The Daily Guardian, said that the Narendra Modi government is committed to the betterment of farmers. He also said that all parties which are protesting today are the ones who have been asking for repealing the APMC Act when they were in power.

Excerpts:

Q: Farmers have called the Bharat Bandh along with support from most of the Opposition parties.

A:“I see that today’s movement is born out of misunderstanding among the farmers, which we (government) will correct, but we have no complaints against the farmers, but the Opposition parties, which till 2014 were speaking differently, today they have taken a U-turn. It was Sharad Pawar, and the UPA, who had made the law with the model APMC, then he was right, how did it go wrong today? The law was passed and implemented, and some 10 states which were ruled by UPA accepted it. The law said of Contract Farming came into force during the rule of Congress, and it was implemented in the states where Congress was in power. In 2010, Rahul Gandhi talked about changes in the APMC law, now how can he say that the changes made by the present government are wrong. The Congress has written in the manifesto of 2019 about the implementation of these three laws in a way, so how can they get rid of it now. It is just politics the Opposition is doing. And this politics is understood by everyone, it will not benefit them in any way.

Q: Farmers have said that the new farm laws will end the ‘mandi system’, they are also worried about ‘contract farming laws’. How will the government deal with it?

A: There is already a contract farming law in Punjab, which is not cancelled yet. There is a law for contract farming in 20 states; APMC will remain, it is not written anywhere in the law that APMC will be locked up, and the second demand that MSP will remain or not, that too remains. In fact, it has increased for the first time in a while, after the implementation of the farmers’ bills. Modiji has given MSP a profitable price. The Swaminathan Committee also declared that this benefit has been received. And farmers will also understand the facts, when their doubt gets cleared.

Q: The PM said in his public address that the three farm laws are very good for farmers. Five meetings have been held between the government and farmers, but no breakthrough has come. What is the way forward?

A: The farmers are a significant part of democracy. There has been a misunderstanding among them that we (government) will overcome. And if something has to be amended in the bills, it will be improved; the government has already said this officially. The three farm laws will benefit the farmers. The Opposition is spreading misinformation, but I am confident, that the government will dispel the myths. That is why I think, this is democracy and we should move in this sequence. The grand old party in its 2019 general elections manifesto had promised similar reforms. The Congress’ hypocrisy on the farm laws is exposed.

Understanding New Farm Bills

October 9, 2020, 7:57 am

One of the most significant members of society is a farmer. He is the foundation of the economy of India. All the economic development in the country is possible only if the farming community is taken care of on a priority basis. More than 15 percent of India’s GDP is accounted for by the agricultural industry. As well as the agricultural industry, India has the largest number of employment.

What is the Farm Bill?

The farm bill ties the food on our plates, the farmers and ranchers who produce that food, and the natural resources- our soil, air and water- that make growing food possible.

The farm bill is a bill package approved approximately once every five years, which has a significant effect on the livelihoods of farming, how food is grown, and what kinds of foods are produced. The farm bill sets the framework for our food and agricultural systems, covering programmes ranging from crop insurance for farmers to sustainable access to food for low-income families, from launching farmers training to promoting sustainable farming practices. It is our job, as a leading advocate for family farmers and sustainable agriculture, to ensure that this critical bill is good for farmers, good for consumers and good for the environment.

The farm bill expires and is revised every five years: proposed, debated, and approved by Parliament and then signed by the President.

What is Farm Bill 2020? The three bills that the Lok Sabha passed are the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020

Trade of farmers’ produce: The Ordinance permits intra-state and inter-state trade in the produce of farmers outside of: (i) physical premises of market yards controlled by market committees constituted under the APMC Acts of the State and (ii) other markets notified under the APMC Acts of the State. Such trade may take place in a ‘outside trade area,’ i.e. any place where the produce of farmers is processed, collected and aggregated, including: (i) farm gates, (ii) factory premises, (iii) warehouses, (iv) silos and (v) cold storage.

Electronic trading: The Ordinance allows for the electronic trading in the specified trade area of scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural products covered under any state APMC Act). In order to facilitate the direct and online buying and sale of such products through electronic devices and the internet, an electronic trading and transaction platform may be set up. These platforms may be set up and operated by the following entities: I companies, partnership companies or registered companies with a permanent account number under the Income Tax Act of 1961 or any other document notified by the central government; and (ii) a farmer’s producer organisation or a cooperative agricultural society.

Market fee abolished: The Ordinance prohibits state governments from levying any market tax, cessation or levy on producers, traders and electronic trading platforms carried out in a ‘outside trade area’ for the trade of farmer’s goods.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020

Farming agreement: The Ordinance provides for a farming agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to any agricultural goods being produced or raised. The minimum period of the agreement would be one crop season, or one livestock production cycle. If the production cycle is longer than five years, the maximum duration is five years.

Pricing of farming produce: The price of farm goods should be specified in the agreement. For prices subject to variance, it is important to specify in the agreement a guaranteed price for the product and a reasonable reference to any additional amount above the guaranteed price. In addition, the price determination process must be listed in the agreement.

Dispute Settlement: A farming agreement must provide for both a conciliation board and a dispute settlement conciliation process. A fair and balanced representation of the parties to the agreement should be provided to the Board. All disputes must first be referred to the Board for resolution. If, after thirty days, the dispute remains unresolved by the Board, the parties will approach the Sub-divisional Magistrate for a resolution. The Parties shall have the right to lodge an appeal against the decisions of the Magistrate with the Appellate Authority (presided over by the collector or additional collector). Within thirty days of receipt of the appeal, the Magistrate and the Appellate Authority would then be required to dispose of the dispute. The Magistrate or the Appellate Authority may impose on the party contravening the agreement certain penalties. However, no action against the farmer’s agricultural land for the recovery of any dues can be taken.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

Regulation of food items: The Essential Commodities Act, 1955, allows the central government to classify such commodities as essential commodities (such as food products, fertilisers, and petroleum products). The production, supply , distribution, exchange, and commerce of such essential commodities may be regulated or prohibited by the central government. The Ordinance provides that the supply of certain food products, including cereals , pulses, potatoes , onions, edible oils and oils, may be controlled by the central government only under specific circumstances. They include: (i) war, (ii) famine, (iii) extraordinary price rise and (iv) natural calamity of grave nature.

Stock limit: It is provided by the Ordinance that the imposition of any stock limit on agricultural products must be focused on an increase in prices. A stock limit will be enforced only if: (i) the retail price of horticultural products has increased by 100%; and (ii) the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items has increased by 50 percent. The increase is calculated on the prevailing price immediately preceding the twelve-month duration or on the average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.

What are the pros of Farm Bill 2020?

The government said the bills would boost the sector of agriculture. This will also raise the income of farmers, the centre said. In fact, by 2022, the government had also promised double farmers income, and the Centre said the Bills will make the farmers stable of government-controlled markets and bring them a better price for their goods. The Bills propose the establishment of a scheme in which farmers and traders may sell their goods outside the Mandis. In addition, it also encourages intra-state trade and this implies reducing transport costs. In addition, the Bill offers a basis for agreements that enable farmers to engage with agri-business companies, retailers, service exporters and the selling of produce while giving farmers access to modern technology. It also provides benefits to small and marginal farmers with a land area of less than five hectares. The Bill would also delete commodities from the list of important goods such as cereals and pulses and attract FDI.

Cons of farm bills

Farmers were apprehensive about the Bill. They say they are apprehensive about getting their product’s minimum support price. They are also worried about the upper hand in negotiations between agri-businesses and big retailers.

They feel that this will place them at a disadvantage. They also suggest that the price will be dictated by the companies and the benefits for small farmers will decrease the sponsors engagement with them.

How these bills will benefit the farmers?

“The government has repeatedly claimed that these bills would revolutionise the lives of Indian farmers, saying” MSP was, MSP is, and MSP would continue in the future. It also asserted that these bills would allow farmers to link with large traders and exporters, bringing agricultural benefit.

“For pure political reasons, few people have opposed it. Under the leadership of PM Modi, well-being is taken care of by the poor and farmers. In its manifestos, Congress has also said certain things. A decision was taken by the Modi government. MSP will remain, I want to assure you all,” said Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister.

In the meantime, the Union Minister for Agriculture has also said that these bills would not affect the APMC Act of the State. “APMC will be within the state, but there will be inter-state trade beyond its periphery, and farmers will still be able to sell their goods from their fields, their homes, and elsewhere after the legislation comes into use.”

Who is protesting?

Farmers in Punjab State have organised a three day protest against the farm bills. Badal too, tendered her resignation after the Bills were passed by the government . Opposition parties including Congress, TMC, BSP together with DMK opposed the agriculture sector reform bills, saying they were against the interests of small and marginal farmers. Congress upped its ante against the Modi government, terming the move a conspiracy to defeat the green revolution.Slamming the govt , Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said: “This government has been eyeing, how they will take the farmers’ land to profit their capitalist friends, whether is that the Land Acquisition Act, whether within the industrial system through weakening the labour courts and now this three-pronged attack on the Indian agricultural system through the two bills on farming – one associated with APMC, the other one is linked to contract farming and the third bill which is on crucial commodities, a three-pronged attack on the Indian farmers.”

Why the protests?

A majority of farmers who may stand to gain from further decisions proposed by the new legislation may not support the old system. On the other hand, in ‘mandis’ the bills are likely to affect influential ‘commission agents’ (known as ‘arhatiyas’ in Punjab and Haryana) who don’t want to lose their control on farmers.

Due to the ‘Mandi Tax’ loss, a decent source of revenue, the state governments of Punjab and Haryana will be most affected.

The ‘arhatiyas’ would also lose not only their commissions, but also their traditional business, officials have explained.

Since the previous functions as informal bankers without collateral within the times of need, Arhatiya and farmer relations are close. But the legislation, the governing body said, did not fully do away with the system and added an alternative instead. The worries of dismantling the MSP system were wrong.

The issues and concerns presented by the protesters include the end of the ‘minimum support price’ (MSP) scheme in due course, the irrelevance of the ‘mandis’ of the state-controlled Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the possibility of losing land rights under the rule of contract farming, reduction in farm production prices due to the dominance of the market by large agro-businesses and the exploitation of farmers by large contractors by contract farming provisions.

Conclusion & Suggestion

The debate over the farm bill 2020 has generated more heat than light. Farmers across Punjab, Haryana and Kerala are majorly protesting against the first two bills related to trade & commerce and assurance of price. The farmers protects is also getting support from various political parties like congress, AIADMK , TMC , RJD, SAD, BSP etc. The opposition parties have collectively called it as a “sell-out to corporate interests”.

Imagine a situation where are basis necessity of life (one that we call food, shelter, clothing) is circumvented by government, what havoc and disturbance it can bring in society. One thing we as a society needs to understand here is that the farmers acts as a fundamental backbones of our Indian economy. And in this pandemic where everyone is struggling with their own problems, the farmers where the one who kept on producing, cultivating basic crops for running the economy and successfully transporting them to mandis.

Now, after recent privatization by our government the concept of “mandis” and “minimum support prices” has been removed. This removal is not only going to impact farmers but also state revenue that was primarily coming from those mandis, this could be one of the reason why many opposition parties are condemning these bills from the start. Apart from this farmer also fears that due to removal of MSPs from the former farmer and agriculture bill will minimize their capacity and strength of bargaining with big companies. A farmer is allowed to sell their product to any one and anywhere according to their own convinces but farmers fear that they won’t be having such adequate knowledge to negotiate the best terms with private companies.

This fear of losing their basis income arising out of that land can’t be truer when there is really no such provision and discussion relating to any dispute resolution mechanism in these three bills. Many people have called it “era of draconian laws” be it industrial labour act to this present day discussed bill relating to farmers. The issue is that may be a few farmers find these bills attractive in the beginning but in the end when they will be not given proper opportunity to negotiate the desired price, they won’t have a backup option either.