At one point in time, the farmer agitation seemed quite reasonable for the fact that all the protests were against the newly formed laws but now the demands have changed because the government had agreed upon the previous ones.
Here are the new Demands:
1. The laws should be scrapped and no modifications will be accepted.
Since the government accepted their discourse on laws and agreed to modify them, now the farmers don’t want the laws and all and only want them to be scrapped so that the 99% of other farmers don’t get the right either.
2. Repeal Commission On Air Quality Management In NCR And The Adjoining Ordinance 2020.
Remember the pollution across Delhi NCR for which earlier we used to blame Diwali? It was due to stubble burning and the government had put a ban on it. But now, the farmers want the government to take back the law on air pollution so they can continue to choke the people of Delhi NCR.
3. Make Minimum Support Price (MSP) And State Procurement Of All Crops A Legal Right.
This demand can have two-fold effects:
Primarily, the storage capacity with the government isn’t that it can hold such huge amounts of crops. Several times we hear news of crops getting wasted due to lack of storage facilities. Any legal right would increase such problems.
The second issue with this demand is that the private players may refrain from buying the Indian crops in such instances and thus, the farmers will fail to get the maximum benefit.
4. Slash Diesel Price For Agricultural Use By 50%
Here is the list of certain existing subsidies and benefits already available to farmers:
- Exemption from income tax
- Fertilizer and power subsidies
- Agricultural equipment, seed and irrigation subsidies
- Credit and export subsidies
- Agricultural infrastructure subsidies
After already present benefits, it is unreasonable to ask for more because if this demand is agreed upon, the taxes might have to be increased on the common citizens as they are the ones paying for it.
5. Withdrawal of Cases Against Farmer Leaders All Over India along with Poets, Intellectuals, Lawyers, Writers And Human & Democratic Rights Activists, those who have been Jailed in should be Released.
The list includes key conspirators of Delhi Riots like Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and more which led to the killing of 53 people. Even Varavara Rao, a naxalite who even still feels proud to have killed Indian security forces in the Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand Naxal effected belt.
And if there is no political vendetta hidden in it, then what is it? Why are the ‘farmer unions’ like BKU who once used to fight elections in Punjab against BJP have now joined hands with Congress and AAP to free criminals from jails and create a ruckus for the entire country?
