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‘Anti-farmer’ Ordinances – Politics hots up in Punjab – by KS Chawla

More than 200 Kisan organizations of the country have launched nationwide agitation to protest against the three ordinance issued by the Central Government pertaining to the farming sector. The kisan organizations from different states have joined together to protest these ordinances which are described as anti-farmer and against the federal structure of the country.

More than one dozen Kisan Unions of Punjab have also joined hands with the national kisan organizations and are taking out tractor marches and holding dharnas in district headquarters to press upon the government to withdraw these ordinances.

KS ChawlaThese ordinances are – Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Assostance) ordinance 2020, Price Guarantee and Farmer services (Empowerment and Protection) ordinance 2020 and Essential Commodities Act. The fourth ordinance pertains to the Electricity act under which, the centre has proposed withdrawal of free electricity to the farmers and instead grant of subsidy to them.

The Central government while issuing these ordinances has claimed that these ordinances would protect the interests of the farmers and the farm labourers. The farmers will be free to sell their produce any where in the country and there would be free market for their produce. The government slogan is ‘one nation-one market’.

The farmers’ organizations allege that these ordinances are meant to dismantle the concept of MSP (minimum support price) for various commodities and also destroy the federal structure of the country. The farmers’ organizations have decided that they would not allow the Modi government to succeed in its designs at any cost and would continue the agitation till the ordinances are withdrawn.

The kisan organizations where have political affiliation with certain parties are also participating in this agitation and the movement is gaining momentum day by day. The farm sector is in great distress and the implementation of these ordinances will further ruin the agriculture in the country instead of having any promotion.

The biggest apprehension of the farmers all over the country is that the government is bent on abolishing the minimum support price (MSP) concept which would ruin the agriculture sector for ever. The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar has assured that the MSP would stay and would not be dismantled. However, the farmers are going to believe the government assurances unless the ordinances are withdrawn.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also convened a meeting of the kisan unions to discuss the ordinances and extended full support to them. He also promised to lead delegation of the unions to the Prime Minister and has written to the Prime Minister seeking appointment for the delegation. But so far, there has been no response from the prime minister.

The kisan unions of Punjab have criticized the Punjab government for banning the rallies of the farmers in the state.

Sunil Jakhar, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has also extended support to the farmers organizations and also directed the Congress cadre to support the cause of the agitating farmers. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of the Shiromini Akali Dal has also assured the Punjab farmers that MSP would not be disturbed and would stay. He has also offered to lead a delegation of farmers to the prime minister.

However, the farmers organization have demanded the resignation of Harsimrat Badal from the Union cabinet as a gesture of support to the agitating farmers. But the Akali Dal has not paid any heed to this demand of the farmers.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who has claimed to have removed Sukhbir Singh Badal from the presidentship of the Shiromini Akali Dal has also written to the Prime Minister Modi to withdraw the ordinances forthwith and help the farmers in their welfare. Dhindsa has also described the ordinances as anti-farmers.

Dhindsa has extended all support to the agitation by the farmers’ organizations in the country. He has opposed any move to withdraw the MSP of different crops.

The Punjab ‘Kisan Unions’ have held demonstrations at the residences of the BJP and Akali Dal leaders of Punjab to express their resentment against the three ordinances. They have also opposed the withdrawal of free power supply to the farm sector.

K S Chawla is a senior journalist based at Ludhiana.
Can be reached at : [email protected]
Mobile : 99886-44244

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