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ABHAY CHAUTALA STEPS DOWN FROM HARYANA ASSEMBLY OVER FARM LAWS

January 28, 2021, 8:32 am

CHANDIGARH: Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Abhay Singh Chautala on Wednesday resigned from Haryana Assembly over the new farm laws.

Chautala arrived in a tractor outside the Vidhan Sabha at Chandigarh to submit his resignation. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha speaker Gian Chad Gupta has accepted the resignation. On January 11, Abhay Singh Chautala had offered his conditional resignation from the state Assembly in support of the agitating farmers. In a letter, Chautala had said if the Centre doesn’t take back three farm laws by January 26 then his letter should be considered as his resignation from the state assembly.

Member of Legislative Assembly from Ellenabad in Haryana, Chautala had slammed the Centre for imposing the “black laws” on farmers in an “undemocratic way”.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26, 2020, against the 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.

ANI

Niti Aayog’s RTI reply on farm laws exposes Centre, SAD and AAP: Capt Amarinder

January 21, 2021, 2:04 am

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that with an RTI response exposing the lie of the Centre’s claim on the farm laws having been approved by the high-powered committee on agricultural reforms, it was now obvious that the Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had been spreading a carnage of lies at the behest of the BJP-led government, with whom the two parties were working in collusion to damage the interests of the farmers.

Media reports citing a reply by the Niti Aayog to a Right to Information (RTI) query suggest that the farm Ordinances were promulgated and introduced in Parliament in June 2020 without the report of the Chief Ministers’ committee being ever appraised by the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, he added.

Far from basing the farm laws on the discussions and decisions of the committee, the fact, as validated by the RTI response, was that the committee report had not even been placed till now before the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog, Captain Amarinder pointed out. Once the report is made public, everyone will now know who said what in the committee meetings, where Punjab was not even a part in the first one, while the second discussed some financial issues with Manpreet Badal in attendance and the third only participated by secretary-level officials, he added.

Dubbing the SAD as a fake champion of the farmers, the Chief Minister said unlike the Akalis, who had been playing double games on the farm laws’ issue, Rahul and the entire Congress had been steadfastly fighting for their rights from the outset. “You should be ashamed of playing with the emotions and the lives of the farmers, without them none of us can survive a day,” he remarked, asserting that his government will not allow the interests of the farmers to be trampled by the likes of the power-seeking Badals and Kejriwal.

AMID PROTESTS 850 ACADEMICIANS SUPPORT FARM LAWS, SAY THESE OPEN MARKET BEYOND ‘MANDIS

January 2, 2021, 3:37 am

’NEW DELHI: Over 850 academicians from different parts of the country have strongly supported the agricultural reform laws brought by the government, saying these Acts seek to free farm trade from restrictions and enable farmers to sell their produce at competitive prices.

In a statement, the academicians who also include a few Vice-Chancellors, said that union government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three farm laws will not 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 new laws also provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce. We strongly believe in the government’s assurance to the farmers to protect their livelihoods. The government is still firmly committed to delivering the principle of minimum government, maximum governance,” the statement said. It said that the laws were brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of agenda for agro-reforms to benefit the farmers.

Read: Understanding New Farm Bills

The statement said that the bills were passed in the monsoon session of the parliament “with a vibrant discussion”. The statement said India is a country where most of the population is still dependent on agriculture for livelihood. “We stand in solidarity with both the government and the farmers and salute their intense efforts. We all will live, progress, and develop together and peacefully,” the academicians said.

The statement comes amid continued protest by farmers on Delhi borders against the three laws – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The government and farmers have held six rounds of talks so far.

With ANI inputs

GOVT, FARMERS AGREE ON 2 OUT OF 4 ISSUES, NEXT MEET ON 4 JANUARY

December 31, 2020, 2:45 am

New Delhi: The sixth round of meetings between protesting farmers and the government ended after over five hours with the Centre saying that the two sides had reached consensus on two out of four key issues. The next meeting will take place on 4 January.

Addressing the media after the meeting with 41 farmer leaders at Vigyan Bhavan here, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: “Today’s talks were held in a very good environment and concluded on a positive note. We have had consensus on two out of the four issues… Next meeting of government with farmers will take place on January 4.”

He said that the government and the farmers had reached agreement over the latter’s demands to keep farmers out of the penal provisions of the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, and to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020.

“We discussed stubble burning and the government assured the farmers that their concerns will be taken into account. The electricity bill was also discussed… this has not been enacted. Farmers believe that subsidy will be withdrawn (under this),” Tomar said.

The government on Wednesday also told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on their demands. During discussions, the government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers’ demands regarding the three farm laws. Along with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal had food with farmer leaders during the lunch break.

The delegation of farmers, hailing primarily from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they wanted the farm laws taken back.

“Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back,” said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was also seen heading to the meeting from the Ghazipur border (UP-Delhi border). Tikait had earlier hit out at the Opposition saying it was weak and are not supporting the cause as they should. “This is the reason farmers have had to come on the roads. The government doesn’t fear them. They should sit in pitched tents and stage protests on roads against the farm laws,” Tikait said.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Som Prakash said that the government would go into the meeting with an open heart and mind and would try to resolve the issue so that people can go back to their homes for New Year.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since 26 November 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.

AGRICULTURE CAN’T BE RUN FROM DELHI: PAWAR ON FARM LAWS

December 30, 2020, 3:09 am

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday blamed the Centre of bulldozing three new farm laws without consulting states. The former agriculture minister also asserted that agriculture cannot be run “sitting in Delhi” as it involves farmers toiling in distant villages.

The NCP chief’s comment came as the farmers’ protest on Delhi borders against these laws has entered its second month and five rounds of talks so far have failed to resolve the crisis.

In an interview with news agency PTI, the former Union minister said the government needs to take the protests seriously and it was “unfair” on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to blame opposition parties for the agitation by farmers. He said opposition parties will take a call on their future course of action on Wednesday if the government fails to resolve farmers’ issue in the next scheduled meeting with representatives of 40 protesting unions.

On Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s claim that Pawar as the then agriculture minister during the UPA government also wanted farm reforms but failed to do so due to political pressure, the NCP leader said he certainly wanted to bring some reforms in the sector but “not in the way” the BJP government has done, and they were different from the current ones.

Pawar said he consulted all state governments before initiating the reforms and didn’t move forward until all their reservations were resolved. “I and Manmohan Singh also wanted to bring some reforms in the agriculture sector but not in the same way as the current dispensation did. That time the Agriculture Ministry held long deliberations on the proposed reforms with agriculture ministers of all states and experts of the sector,” Pawar said.

“Agriculture can’t be run by sitting in Delhi as it involves hard-working farmers in villages and a bigger responsibility for this subject lies with state governments. So, when a majority of agriculture ministers had some reservations, it was the duty of the central government and mine to take them in confidence and resolve their issues before moving ahead,” he said.

In comparison, Pawar alleged, the Centre neither consulted states this time, nor it called any meeting with state agriculture ministers before preparing these bills.

He said the Centre has passed farm bills on the basis of their own strength in Parliament and that’s why all the problems started.

Stressing that dialogue should have happened earlier, he said the government should have talked earlier to resolve farmers’ reservations about these laws.

“How can a government say in a democracy that it won’t listen or it won’t change its line? In a way, the government bulldozed these three bills. If the Centre had consulted state governments and taken them in confidence, then such a situation wouldn’t have arisen,” Pawar said. “In politics and democracy, dialogue should take place,” Pawar said.

He said farmers are worried that these laws would end the MSP procurement system and the government needs to do something to “address such worries”.

“And for the talks, they should have put those leaders in the front from BJP who understand the agriculture sector better. If those who have an in-depth understanding of agriculture, farmers’ issues and agri-economy were negotiating with farmers, they might have found a way to resolve this issue.”

Pawar said farmers do not want any political party to be associated with their agitation, but the government has been continuously blaming opposition parties for the protests. “Prime Minister says that some political parties are behind this… No political party is behind this agitation and farmers have clearly told political leaders not to come to their protest sites as representatives of any political outfit and if anyone wanted to join the agitation, they must come as farmers. They don’t want political parties or opposition parties to associate with their agitation, but for no reason, the prime minister and others are blaming political parties and that is unfair,” Pawar said.

NITI AAYOG MEMBER HAD SOUGHT KEJRIWAL’S VIEW ON FARM LAWS

December 29, 2020, 2:45 am

New Delhi: A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to the Singhu border to extend his support to protesting farmers and talked of an open debate on farm laws, an internal communication has come out in which a member of Niti Aayog had sought his feedback on his working paper “to address implications of the Acts from the perspective of farmers, farm sector and rural economy”.

Official sources said Niti Aayog member had shared the documents with the view to eliciting comments from the Kejriwal government. They said this was more than a month before the Chief Minister tore copies of the farm laws in Delhi assembly accusing the Central government of getting them passed “in a hurry during the pandemic” and was contrary to his allegations.

The Chief Minister had also accused the government of getting the bills passed without voting in Rajya Sabha even as his government has notified farm law.Sources said the internal communication was sent to Delhi Chief Minister’s office by a member of Niti Aayog on 12 November seeking his feedback. They said it was forwarded to a Delhi minister for perusal. The sources said that the communication sent to Kejriwal’s office noted that the central government has enacted three farm laws in September 2020 “to implement long-pending policy reforms to give a strong impetus to rural and agriculture economy and to usher in the prosperity of India’s farmers”.

“It gives me immense pleasure to share a soft copy of the working paper prepared by me to address the implications of the Acts from the perspective of farmers, farm sectors and rural economy. Your feedback is welcome,” the member wrote.

The Chief Minister went to the Singhu border on Sunday to extend support to agitating farmers who are seeking repeal of three farm laws. It was his second visit to the Singhu border.

The AAP government has come out in support of agitating farmers and made arrangements for them.

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.

Sonia to hold Congress meet today, G23 talk, farm stir on agenda

December 19, 2020, 5:13 am

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has called for a meeting of senior party leaders on Saturday to formulate the party’s strategy on the current political scenario amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation against farm laws. The meeting will continue for 10 days.

The sources said in the meeting “efforts will be made for the reconciliation between the senior leaders of the party and group of Congress ‘rebels’ who wrote a letter flagging a leadership drift and calling for sweeping organisational changes.” In a press briefing, Congress general secretary said Sonia Gandhi will hold a meeting with party leaders for the next 10 days.

The crucial meeting between senior disgruntled leaders of the Congress known as G23 and Sonia Gandhi will be held at her residence on Saturday morning at 10 am. This will be first face to face meeting between them after 23 senior Congress leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding sweeping reforms in the party. The meeting is being seen as a move towards “reconciliation” among the warring factions within the party.

“Sonia Gandhi was unable to physically meet people because of Covid situation. From tomorrow, she will be meeting with the party leaders and take decisions on various organisational activities and various ongoing issues like farmers agitation, scrapping of winter session of Parliament. It will be an ongoing process for the next 10 days,” he said.

“The leaders who will be meeting Sonia Gandhi include those who wrote letter and those who have specific concerns with functioning. Every party member is dear to us and everyone has the right to raise their concerns.

They are part of our family. We will continue to fight for the people of India, together. It is the tradition of the party,” he added.

According to sources, the possible formation of the alliance in West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu will also be discussed in the meeting. “Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision on the alliance after listening to all leaders,” a source told ANI.

Sonia Gandhi will also discuss the scraping of winter session of Parliament by the central government with senior leaders comprising party’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs.

“Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, former Union Minister Pawan Bansal, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Congress general secretary Ajay Maken will be there in the meeting at 10 Janpath,” a source said.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat will discuss the changes in Punjab cabinet and farmer agitation and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor will discuss the results of local body polls in Kerala, sources said.

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

December 19, 2020, 5:08 am

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke exclusively to The Daily Guardian about the massive farmers’ protest taking place at Delhi’s borders against the new farm laws and how the Modi government only intended to benefit farmers. Excerpts:

Q: The farmers’ protest has been going on for 23 days now. How is the government going to deal with this?

A: We are ready to have a point-by-point discussion with farmers over the new laws. Whichever points the farmers feel is not to their liking or will harm them, we are ready to even change that.

There are two major points of misunderstanding here: our Constitution has fundamental rights in it, so should the farmers also not have the option of selling their crops wherever they want? About 18kms from Nagpur, I have farmland where we grow crops. Earlier today, I sold the crops for the first time since the law came in. Before, we had to pay middlemen an 8% bribe. Now, I sold my crop directly in the Pratapgarh market, which gained me 8-10 rupees of extra earnings per kilo and cut out the bribe to the middleman. It is my fundamental right to sell my wares where I want. When we go to buy anything anywhere, we pay the price selected by the seller, but when farmers go to sell, they can’t sell at the rates they want. Even the APMC system is being continued, so the farmer can sell wherever he wants to and gets the best price. Is this not in the favour of the farmers? All of what is happening is a ploy to confuse the farmers.

Let’s talk about contract farming, the farmer doesn’t have money for tilling the land, he doesn’t have money for seeds or for fertilizer and the land is lying idle. Now someone comes and says, ‘we will provide you with everything’ and during the harvest, they split it in half with the farmer. What’s wrong in this? Or if someone says, ‘whatever comes, we’ll pay you a certain amount, regardless of the crop’ – how is any of it turning into a loss for a downtrodden farmer who had nothing to begin with? If you use a taxi aggregator service, you pay the fare, but do you own the car? Of course, not. Records will show that the land belongs to the farmer.

There are misunderstandings being created and the way forward is with talks, in which we are ready to change anything the farmers are unhappy with. Now even the SC is intervening and I’m sure something will come out of that as well.

Q: If everything is good about the farm bills, then why are such massive protests taking place? Why are the farmers saying that the bills have to be taken back completely?

A: There are many aspects to the bills. Is everything anti-farmer? Is 100% of it wrong? Let’s sit down, talk point-by-point and understand everything. If there’s anything wrong, we will change it. This entire matter shouldn’t be politicized. Security and welfare matters should not be politicized. Political leaders have the right to do politics, but using this opportunity to play politics is absolutely wrong.

Q: Even the SC asked the government if the laws can be put on hold until a committee can come to a conclusion. Is there a section in the government discussing it?

A: The government is putting its stance forward in front of the SC and there are talks underway for reaching solutions with the farmers. Commenting on inside dealings would not be correct at this point.

Q: Rahul Gandhi tweeted asking how many farmers have to die before the government will wake up.

A: In the last six years, we have raised the MSP every annum. This did not happen during the UPA government. What right does the Congress have in talking about this? The Central government goes through many stages to set the MSP and today we are seeing that the MSP is higher than the price of the crop. When we set an MSP, we have to buy it at that cost. You can see that we are buying the crop at that very price, despite the market, and extending benefits to the farmers. Our government is for the welfare of the farmer and we will work towards it.

Q: On Thursday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar wrote an eight-page letter where he detailed the myths and facts of the issues which are creating fears in the minds of farmers. This letter has been tweeted and re-tweeted by a number of ministers. But the farmers are saying that these are a bundle of lies created to confuse them by the government.

A: The matter is in the Supreme Court. I trust the court in the matter. Let the court examine the matter and bring out the truth. I have nothing more to say in the matter. How can you wake up people who are acting as if they are asleep? The media should discuss the three laws and I will explain everything. We are ready for discussions.

Q: The farmers say that issues like MSP and APMC should be incorporated. They also want to know why these rules can’t be repealed.

A: The declaration of the MSP is done through a notification. The government is legally bound to abide by it.

Q: ASSOCHAM and CII have written a letter saying that there have been massive losses because of the protests. Even you wrote a letter to Punjab CM Capt Amrinder Singh about the massive losses faced in toll taxes. Have you gotten a reply? Or is the government coming up with some way to deal with this?

A: We have done what we can. Now the SC is discussing the matter and I’m sure a solution would be found there.

10 farmers’ groups extend support to govt on farm laws

December 15, 2020, 2:10 am

As the ongoing protest against the farm laws continued for the 19th day, a new group of 10 farmers’ unions on Monday extended their support to the Central government over its decision to undertake the necessary amendments in the three contentious farm laws.

The support for the government came on the day the leaders of protesting farmers began a one-day hunger strike on Monday against the farm laws.

Under the banner of the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), the group of farmers belonging to states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana expressed their support after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at his office here.

The farmers, in a written statement, said that they agreed with the government’s proposal to suitably amend the three farm laws which is the centre of deadlock leading to ongoing protest at Delhi’s different borders since 26 November.

As thousands of farmers under the leadership of over 32 farm unions are sitting on demonstration for the last 19 days, the AIKCC group appealed to the farmers to support the government’s proposal regarding amendments in the three laws—The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers term these laws “black laws”, “draconian” and “anti-farmer”.

Stressing on amendments in the three laws, the AIKCC said, “Modern infrastructure is necessary in the current farming scenario because the present method is not enough for implementation of new laws. The farmers have been following old techniques. So, it is necessary to do amendments in these laws.”

After the meeting, the Agriculture Minister tweeted that the leaders of the group agreed that these laws are beneficial for the farmers and these should not be withdrawn. He also said that the farmers accepted that the ongoing protest is politically motivated.

The new group of farmers agreed with the government’s proposal days after more than a dozen farmers from Haryana FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation) and the Jagruk and Pragatiseel Kisan Union submitted a signed acceptance of the new laws to Tomar during a meeting with him at the Ministry earlier.

WITH IANS INPUTS

Govt not ready to repeal farm laws: Farmer leader after meeting with Amit Shah

December 9, 2020, 2:21 am

New Delhi: Leaders of farmers unions on Tuesday held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal over their demands and said there will be no meeting with the government on Wednesday and they will get a proposal from the government on which they will deliberate.

All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah said after the meeting that the sixth round of talks between farmers’ unions and Central government representatives, which was scheduled for Wednesday, will not be held.

The farmers are protesting against three recently enacted farm laws.

“No meeting will be held between farmers and the government tomorrow. The minister has said that a proposal will be given to the farmer leaders tomorrow (December 9). Farmer leaders will hold a meeting over government’s proposal,” Mollah told the media.

He also said that the government is not ready to take back farm laws. “From last five days we are discussing the same issues. The government is not ready to take back the farm laws,” he said.

Mollah said that the farmer unions will meet at 12 noon on Wednesday. “Tomorrow we will hold a meeting at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border) at 12 noon,” he said.

The farmers, who are on protest since 26 November on Delhi borders, had called a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday in support of their demand which was supported by several political parties.

The government and farmer unions have held five rounds of talks so far. Tomar and Goyal, who is also minister for food and consumer affairs, have been present in previous rounds of talks.

The meeting today was attended by 13 leaders of farmer unions. The talks started at around 8.30 pm.

WITH ANI INPUTS