Hello Readers, This is the second part of my last blog post The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce Act, 2020: Everything you need to know about the new agriculture reforms 2020 in India. In this post, today i have explained about why farmers are protesting from last 33 days?? Read detailed information about this topic.
Indian farmers are fearing that they might lose more than they could gain after the new Farms Laws 2020 thereby taking the protest to the streets.
Firstly you need to know about MSP.
What is MSP?
(P.S.: The detailed blog about MSP will published soon... Stay connected.)
As quoted by ANI, Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait stated, " They (Central Government) want amendment in them (Farm Laws 2020) but we want these laws to be repealed. We don’t want changes. We will end our protest only when these laws are withdrawn. Like the government brought the three bills, they should also bring a bill on the MSP."
● ANI further quoted BKU leader Rakesh Tikait stating that they are ready to have future talks on Farm Laws 2020 with the Government.
● As reported by AlJazeera, 27-year-old Rashpinder Singh stated that the Indian Government has left the farmers at the mercy of big corporations. It is preposterous to believe that farmers who have small landholdings will have any bargaining power over private players.
● As Farmers' agitation against three contentious Farm Laws entered day 34 (on 29 December 2020), the Farmer's Union on 29 December 2020 has accepted Centre's proposal to hold sixth round of talks.
● After agitating farmers accepted Centre's proposal to hold sixth round of talks, Centre sent an invitation for talks on 30 December 2020 to 40 farmer representatives which have been accepted by the farmers.
● As per a letter by Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal, all the issues related to farmers, including the three farm laws, MSP-based procurement, the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 will be discussed in detail with the 40 representatives of farm unions.
The talks scheduled on 30 December 2020 at 2 p.m. between the Centre and 40 farmer representatives will take place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
(It is to be noted that 5 rounds of talks have taken place so far between the Government and the Farmers' representatives. However, no solution has been found to date.)
Income Tax Raid on Arhtiyas
The Income Tax raids were conducted at the premises of big Arhtiyas of Punjab within four days of issuing notices, without waiting for responses to the notices. Around 16 Arhtiyas have been served Income Tax notices. There are around 28,000 licensed commission agents in Punjab.
As per leaders of different unions, Arhtiyas are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers in their ongoing protest against the Farm Laws 2020 and the raids were an attempt to divide the farmer and arhtiya unity to sabotage this movement.
Thus, Arhtiyas in the Indian State of Punjab have decided to shut down all the grain markets in the state from 22-25 December 2020 to express resentment over the Income tax raids.
Why the Indian farmers rejected the Central Government's proposal?
1- Central Government proposed that the respective State Governments can levy cess on the private mandis.
The proposal was rejected by the farmers as they believe that the creation of private mandis along with APMC will drive agriculture business towards private mandis, ending government markets, intermediary systems and APMCs. As a result, big corporate houses will overtake markets, thereby procuring farm produce at incidental rates. The farmers believe that the Government may delay the procurement (as in the case of paddy), turning the public markets inefficient and redundant.
2- Central Government proposed that they will give written assurance for the continuation of the existing MSP system.
The proposal was rejected by the farmers as they believe that the new Farm Laws 2020 are brought to dismantle APMCs. Thus, they are demanding a comprehensive Act on MSP pan India and for all crops. They are of the view that a written assurance from the Union Government is not a legal document and holds no guarantee.
3- Central Government proposed that they will direct the State Governments to register traders in order to regulate them.
The proposal was rejected by the farmers as the new Farm Laws 2020 have no provision to regulate the traders. As per new Laws, any PAN cardholder can procure grains from the markets at wishful prices and hoard the farm produce. The farmers believe that the Central Government is not ready to take responsibility for the ongoing issue as they want the State Governments to regulate the traders.
4- Central Government proposed that under the contract farming law, farmers will have the alternative to approach the court and their land will be safe as no loan will be given on farmers’ land and their buildings by mortgaging it.
The proposal was rejected by the farmers as the history of contract farming has many examples of non-payment by the companies making various excuses like substandard produce. For example, in Sugarcane produce, payments were held for years; many cases of non-procurement have been witnessed citing 'poor quality', driving the farmers into a debt trap. Thus, farmers do not have money to repay the loans and have no option to sell/lose their lands.
Government's take on the farmers' protest
On 20 September 2020, Prime Minister Modi referred the Farm Bills 2020 as a watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture, empowering millions of farmers.
On 29 November 2020, PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio address to the nation stated that all the political parties had been making promises to the farmers but now these promises had been fulfilled, citing an example of the Maharashtrian farmer whose payments for his corn crop was kept pending by traders for four months.
He further stated that under new Farm Laws 2020, all the dues of the farmers must be cleared within three days of procurement, failing which, the farmer can lodge a complaint.
Prime Minister Modi stated, “The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. We will see and experience the benefits of these new laws in the coming days.”
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the government is committed to MSP, however, it was "not a part of the law" earlier and "is not" today.
Criticism
Farmers have called the new Farm Laws 2020 as 'corporate-friendly' and 'anti-farmer'.
(a) President of the Maharashtra Rajya Bazaar Samiti Sahakari Sangh, Dilip Mohite Patil claimed that around 100-125 market committees in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions have reported almost no business and are on the verge of closure after the announcement of the central Ordinance.
(b) Food Processing Industries Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal resigned from her post in protest against these Bills.
(c) Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal returned his Padma Vibhushan to protest 'the betrayal of farmers by the Government of India'.
(d) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, "Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters. We believe in the process of dialogue. We’ve reached out through multiple means to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns. This is a moment for all of us to pull together."
To this, the Indian Government reacted sharply stating that his remarks are “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson stated, "We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country. It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes."
(e) As reported by PTI, social activist Anna Hazare has threatened to go on a hunger strike if his demands on issues concerning farmers are not met by the Central Government by the end of January 2020. He further stated that it would be his 'last protest'.
Complated...
Next blog post on "MSP- Minimum Support Price".
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