Claiming that no political party has misguided the farmers over the agriculture bills passed in Parliament, Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union president Gurnam Singh Chaduni on Wednesday said that farmers are fully aware about the farm bills and they are just seeking a law which ensures assured Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
Talking to The Pioneer on phone, he said that the legislators of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) should listen to their inner voice and join agitation against anti-farmer bills. He said the agitation has received a warm response from labourers to traders despite the Centre and BJP- ruled State Government’s campaign in favour of these bills. “We have appealed to the traders and shopkeepers to shut down their establishments in support of farmers against these bills. The peaceful agitation has been called and will further be intensified in coming days," he added.
Chaduni who is leading farmers’ agitation against Centres’ three contentious farm bills in Haryana claimed that the State has witnessed such a big stir after many years. The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, were passed by the Upper House recently through voice vote despite objection from farmers.
He said, “We hope that MLAs of BJP and JJP will listen to their inner voice and would come forward in support of farmers who have been demonstrating the passage of agricultural reform bills in the parliament.” He alleged that through these passed bills, the ruling party is trying to benefit the big business.
Asked whether these bills have become political, Chaduni said that this has become people’s issue as the opposition did not play its due role when three ordinances were introduced. They are playing a better role now after farmers stir picked up.
Responding to a question that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has recently appealed to farmers to talk to the State Government, he said, “BJP Government had never invited farmers for talks to redress their concerns in the past few years. We are ready to talk to the Government if they invite us to discuss issues pertaining to farmers of the State.”
Responding to the question that Haryana Chief Minister also assured farmers' of not ending the MSP of crops, he said that if this system is not being ended, then why maize was not purchased at the rate of MSP. In place of MSP of Rs 1,760 per quintal, the farmers sold maize to private players in the range of just Rs 800 to 1,100 per quintal. Why did (the government agencies) procure only 25 per cent of total gram (at the rate of MSP)? The government is withdrawing its hand from offering support price to the crops of farmers.
Asked about the BJP's charge that farmers are being misguided by the opposition leaders, Chaduni said that no one can misguide the farmers. This issue is not related to Congress, JJP and BJP but of the people of the country. He alleged that JJP has failed to raise the voice of Haryana farmers. “If Dushyant wants to keep hopes of farmers alive, he should move out of the alliance government in the interest of the farmers. Farmers gave Dushyant votes with the hope that he will work for their welfare. He got the anti-BJP votes. But in his hunger for power, he has put all those votes in the pocket of the BJP. The BJP has now brought out a death warrant for the farming sector. He should withdraw support from the BJP-JJP government.”
On the recent hike in MSP for Rabi crops, he said that the hike in the MSP is insufficient in comparison to the rate of inflation. Normally, the MSP is declared at the end of October or initial period of November, but this time they have declared it one and half months in advance. This is just an attempt to convince the farmers that MSP is not being discontinued.
Chaduni further said that with the passage of these bills in both the Houses of the parliament, now the entire agriculture business will go into the hands of few private capitalists. Agricultural produce will go to them and people of the country will purchase food grains from them at much higher prices. Currently, the government purchases food grains and supplies to the poor (at cheaper rates) as the government doesn't believe in profit making. Farmers are just seeking a law from the Union Government which ensures assured Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the crops, he added.