Farmers Movement Archive

'Farmers protest seems to have been infiltrated by ultra-Leftists,' says Union minister Piyush Goyal

Food and consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal tells TOI that the government is open to address the concerns of farmers but adds that the amendments are meant to benefit tillers across the country. He also says the movement seems to have been infiltrated by ultra-Leftists. Excerpts from a conversation with Sidhartha, Vishwa Mohan and Akhilesh Singh. Given the stance that farmers’ unions have taken, what is the way out? If the farmers were genuinely being led by farmer leaders, there would have been a way out given that the government is willing to engage with them and is sympathetic to their concerns. Obviously, dialogue and discussion are the only way to find solutions. Sadly, we are finding, despite giving an assurance, and after having addressed their concerns, there is really no issue on which they are agitating. We have assured them that MSP procurement will continue. We have agreed to ensure that states can levy the same tax on private markets as the APMC markets. The government is willing to consider all sorts of dispute resolution. We have given our written confirmation that land can never be attached under any circumstances. We have also said the law ensures that farmers will always have the upper hand in selling produce. We have agreed that all traders have to be registered, along with the agreements. The law opens up avenues without closing anything that is already happening. It’s only expanding opportunities for farmers by allowing them to sell to whomsoever they like, wherever and whenever they like. It will allow entrepreneurs to set up cold storage and other infrastructure near their farms, while encouraging farmers to go for value-added products to increase their income. Going by the demand for release of so-called poets and intellectuals, who are facing serious charges, as well as reports in media, including your own, it is evident that Leftist and Maoist elements have infiltrated the movement. Media reports also suggest that some leaders over there have such a history. Probably, they are hell bent on disrupting this movement and creating chaos. It is unfortunate they are disrupting dialogue and discussions for the resolution of the farmers’ concerns. Did the move to bring up the issue of people accused under UAPA surprise you and did they bring it up earlier? Initially, in the first meeting, there were just one or two sentences but after that, they never talked about it. It is only now that we see people holding placards at the protest site, and we are seeing statements being made to this effect. Their concerns are not with the farmers and they seem to be of a different nature which is a matter of concern for all of us. These laws are good for farmers across the country. You saw that the Bharat Bandh did not evoke response anywhere in the country. Trains ran normally throughout the day and we loaded 7-8% more freight that what was loaded on the same day one year ago. It clearly shows that they do not have the support of farmers, the visuals we saw on TV were of political party activists. Farmers across the country are happy about it. If the laws were so bad and APMC was the only option for farmers, then why did Kerala, which has either had a Left or a Congress government, not put the APMC Act into operation till date? Out of the five leaders who went to see the President, two were Left leaders, who have no presence in the country. Your political opponents are saying there wasn’t adequate consultation on the amendments. These things have been under consultation for nearly 20 years now, if not more. The day we cleared the ordinance, one of the farmer leaders, who is sitting over there, he said his father’s soul will rest in peace because this is the same law for which he had fought some 25-35 years ago. These are demands made by farmers in 2018-19 through a document called the Kisan Manifesto, which the Bharatiya Kisan Union had tweeted on April 2019 and said this is a very comprehensive document, which details problems and solutions to agriculture crisis. In that, they had said abolishing APMC Act, Essential Commodities Act etc should be taken up and they will support, whichever party takes it up. Thereafter, they supported the Congress party. We have not abolished the two laws. We have opened up opportunities to do free trade, which was also an integral part of the agenda of the farmers. Consultations were held with all the states and, by and large, there was consensus. Before that, a committee of ministers had also recommended it, the same laws that we have now brought in. Sharad Pawarji had written to all chief ministers, requesting that the model law be adopted, which was on the same lines as the law we brought out. Then, there was a committee of CMs, the National Commission of Farmers, there have been a number of reports that have focused on how it is the need of the hour to give freedom to farmers. It is unfortunate that some political parties are now trying to jump on to the bandwagon of the farmers’ protest. I do hope that the farmers will see through the design of these elements. Are the demands for repeal of the amendments and a legal framework for MSP non-negotiable? There are a number of good and positive aspects of the law. Why should the nation’s farmers be deprived of the benefits of the laws? The country has to worry about the interests of 10-12 crore farmers. On the legal framework for MSP, Congress has been in power for so many years, the Communists have supported so many governments, including the UPA and the Third Front, at no point they made any effort to make it a legal right. The Modi government almost doubled procurement. It has increased MSP with a cost plus 50% formula. The Modi government has given the highest increase and our sincerity is for all to see. We are committed to ensuring that MSP will continue. How will the new farm laws increase farmers’ income as there is no guarantee that private traders will, at least, pay MSP? Farmers don’t have to sell their produce to private players. Instead, the laws provide farmers with an alternative to government procurement at MSP. It does not replace it. Private players will exist alongside government procurement and will have to offer attractive prices and facilities in order to attract farmers. Farmers’ representatives have also been demanding withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill. How will the government address this? The government is willing to engage with them and is very sympathetic to any genuine concerns they have. Government has already said that the bill – which is still under consideration – could be modified to ensure that there is no change in how farmers pay their bills. Farmers also have strong objection to the penalty provision for stubble burning under the new ordinance on air quality management in Delhi-NCR. What’s the government plan to address it? The ordinance was promulgated as part of the government’s assurance to the court to tackle air pollution in and around Delhi. The penalties are primarily targeted at industrial pollution. The government has assured to address farmers’ concerns about the penal provisions. Farmers’ unions have once again threatened to go for blockade of railway lines. How will you handle the situation? I would appeal to farmers not to resort to blocking of railway lines since it causes inconvenience to people, armed forces, students, MSMEs, farmers and consumers.

The Times of India

2020-12-12

Chandigarh