Farmers Movement Archive

Send your experts for debate with farmers: CM Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday challenged the Centre to send its ministers who were experts on the new farm laws for a public debate with the leaders of the farmers’ unions so that it became clear how beneficial or dangerous the legislation were. Kejriwal addressed the protesting farmers, who have been camping at Singhu border for more than a month, after joining the Safar-e-Shahadat Kirtan Darbar organised by Punjabi Academy of Delhi government at Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial in memory of the martyrdom of the four Sahibzaade and Mata Gujri Kaur. “Today, through this platform and at such a sacred place, I want to appeal to the central government with folded hands to repeal the agri laws. These are our people, our brothers, sisters, mothers and elders. These are the people of our nation. Listen to them and end their struggle here. How many lives will you take?” asked Kejriwal. He added that farmers from across the nation had gathered at the border, were sleeping on the road in the biting cold and 40 people had lost their lives. Requesting the Centre to repeal the farm laws as soon as possible, guarantee MSP, and end the struggle of the farmers, Kejriwal said, “I want to challenge the Centre to send in their experts on these farm laws and have a public debate with the leaders of the farmers’ unions. I have seen videos of these leaders and they know the entire Constitution and all the laws. I’m sure the extent to which they know these laws, even central ministers won’t.” The chief minister had last visited Singhu border on December 7 and reviewed the arrangements made for the farmers by Delhi government. “Various things are being alleged. I believe things like these have always been a weapon for all governments. I remember, during the Anna Andolan we were also defamed. Our farmers are being called terrorists and anti-national. But I want to ask if they become terrorists and anti-national, who will feed you?” he asked. “The farmers of our nation have been betrayed for the past 70 years by all the leaders and political parties. The promises of waiving loans and giving employment to farmers’ children were never fulfilled. Now, through the farm laws, the government wants to take farming away from farmers and hand it over to big corporates,” claimed Kejriwal. Asking what would farmers do if farming was taken away from them, Kejriwal said, “The farmers sitting on the borders today with their elders and children are fighting for survival. If big companies take over farming, farmers will be left with nothing.” “The Centre is busy justifying the farm laws by saying that land won’t be taken away from farmers and MSP and mandis will not be revoked instead of telling the benefits. The only benefit they have been telling is that farmers will be able to sell their produce anywhere in the country outside of the mandis,” said the CM. Claiming that benefit was not being given to the farmers, but to big companies and the rich, Kejriwal said, “If a crop is being sold at Rs 800 per quintal in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where there are no mandis and the MSP is Rs 1,850 per quintal, where will the farmers sell at a higher price? They cannot even get 50% of the price outside of the mandis.”

The Times of India

2020-12-28

Delhi