In Democracy, Irresponsible Politics leads to Disaster
Political leaders must share economic justification & sources of funds for their demands with citizens. Whether opposition supporting repealing of the three Act or not, please clarify, this line is missing from the all-party meeting?
By: Vijay SARDANA
In the last 50 years, under the restrictive APMC Act, more than 4 lakh farmers committed suicide, small farmers suffered from poverty & middlemen became the richest community in rural India. Only 10 to 20% of consumer spending was reaching the farmers, the rest of the farmers’ share was pocketed by middlemen, which is leading to financial stress among the small farmers.
In order to change the situation on the ground & to ensure maximum share of consumer spending reaches the farmers, three trade laws were passed by the Parliament for giving choice to farmers to earn a better livelihood. Middlemen and their wellwishers started agitation and misled the farmers by raising ill-founded arguments like lands will be lost, farmers will become bonded labourers etc and instigated the farmers in various parts of India. When the Supreme Court asked to share their point by point grievances, these agitating leaders refused to respect the parliamentary process and insisted that laws to be repealed and the old system, which was exploiting small farmers, must continue.
In order to discuss the issue of the all-party meeting called by opposition political parties and made the following demands:
Centre make the MSP “a statutory right”, (Who will buy surplus & the sources of funds)
Continue procurement of foodgrains through the Food Corporation of India and other such agencies, as well as arthiyas. (Why so much political support for Ahrtiyas?)
It also sought withdrawal of changes to the environment and electricity laws, which are part of the demands raised by farmers. (Why shouldn't steps be taken to save natural resources?)
Before making demands, these leaders must have done cost calculations, please share their calculations, economic cost & tax implications with citizens:
What is the cost of these demands to the nation, let all party leaders share their calculations with the people of India.
How will the money be used for these demands and Who will bear the tax burden?
Who is advising the Punjab farmers to grow wheat and rice when there is no demand from the market?
What is the role of the state government in pushing the farmers into crop cycles which are detrimental to the rural economy, groundwater & financial health of India?
When the state government is keen to give free electricity to produce crops which are not required, why is the state government not buying the same crops?
Why is the Punjab government so keen that FCI should buy from ahratiyas, the same people who exploited farmers in the last 50 years and responsible for their miseries? What is the motivation in patronizing these middlemen in the system? Why ahratiyas commission based on the percentage in Punjab, which is not the case anywhere else?
Citizens are waiting for calculations & answers from all political party leaders opposing reforms.
