India's new agricultural laws: Thousands of Indian farmers protest, clash with police and refuse to talk to government

 

Protester

Farmers from several states of the country have been on strike on the border of New Delhi, the capital of India, for the past four days and today is the fifth day of their movement.

They marched on the capital in September with the slogan "Let's go to Delhi" to oppose the agricultural law introduced by the central government.

They are present in thousands in different places. Farmer leaders say they have brought rations for the next several days and will not end their protest until the demands are met.

The government is preventing them from entering Delhi and the government says the new agriculture law is designed for their benefit.

Farmers and police have also clashed at various places due to the blockade. Water cannons and tear gas shells were used against farmers on the Haryana-Delhi border.

Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said in several tweets that farmers have the right to protest and the Congress is also opposing the law from parliament to the streets.

What does the new law say?

In the third week of September, the Indian Parliament introduced three consecutive agriculture bills, which were immediately legalized.

One is the Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce Act 2020 and the other is the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agricultural Services Act 2020 which includes price assurances and agreements. The third law is the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

The first law provides for an ecosystem where farmers and traders will be free to sell their produce outside the market.

Their provisions call for the promotion of trade within the state and between the two states, thereby reducing marketing and transportation costs.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agriculture Act 2020 provides a national framework on agricultural contracts.

The bill empowers farmers to participate in the sale of agricultural products, farm services, agribusiness companies, processors, wholesalers, large retailers and exporters.

Ensuring the supply of quality seeds, technical assistance and crop health monitoring will provide loan facilities and crop insurance to farmers who contract.

Under the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020, arrangements have been made to remove grains, pulses, edible oil, onion and potato from the list of essential commodities.

The country is divided on these laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims that the reforms being made with these laws will be a turning point for the agriculture sector. On the other hand, the country's opposition has termed these laws as anti-farmer and said that they would be a death knell for the farmers.

Farmers' organizations in the country are also protesting against them, saying they are "unfair" and will exploit farmers.

Pro-legal reform economists have partially welcomed him, but say the method of distorting the work is not correct and will not yield the expected results.

The farmers are demanding a peaceful demonstration at Delhi's historic Ram Leela Maidan, while the government has asked them to move to the suburbs of Delhi so that talks can take place.

Farmers are protesting against the new agricultural laws on the Sanghu border of Delhi and Haryana. At the same time, amid tight security, farmers are continuing their protest on the border of Delhi, Ghazipur, UP and Ghaziabad.

In fact, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the central government was ready to hold talks with the farmers but first they would have to come to Delhi's Barari Maidan from Sanghu and Tekri borders.

According to PTI, a meeting of BJP party leaders on the issue of farmers was held at the residence of party president JP Nanda on Sunday evening in which Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture Minister Render Singh Tomar met. Attended.

Earlier, Amit Shah had termed the farmers' protest as apolitical and said that the law was for the welfare of the farmers.

On Sunday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his program 'Min Ki Baat', once again spoke in favor of farmers, while Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government should give him this condition before December 3. Ready to talk, let's get together first.

It may be recalled that the government has hinted at meeting a delegation of farmers on December 3.

The Haryana government tried hard to stop the farmers from coming to Delhi but failed and now the Khap community there has also decided to support the farmers' movement. The Khap community is a very influential community of Jats on the outskirts of Delhi.

On the other hand, the farmer leader of Uttar Pradesh has also spoken of supporting the farmers of Punjab.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has said that the government should talk to the farmers immediately without any preconditions. He spoke in a tweet.

According to ANI, Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann said: "We are supporting this struggle. We do not want to interfere in this matter. "

He said that farmers should be allowed to stay where they are gathered. The government should provide them facilities there. "The duty is for the prime minister, the interior minister and the agriculture minister to go and meet him," he said. They have time for municipal corporation elections, not for them. It shows their intention. "

It may be recalled that these days many BJP leaders are holding rallies for the upcoming municipal elections in Hyderabad. The Aam Aadmi Party leader was referring to this.