Farmers Movement Archive

PAU students oppose ICAR site claim in favour of farm laws

LUDHIANA: Agricultural scientists, students and researchers and research institutes support the new agricultural laws for the benefit of agriculture and farmers as claimed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) website. However, PAU students claim that the ICAR is giving a wrong impression among the people that the students of agriculture favour new farm laws. No suggestions were taken from the students and this was totally baseless. Students and research fellows of the PAU have written to the DG, ICAR, on the same to remove the a post on its website, flashing that students favour the new farm laws. A research scholar in the department of agronomy, PAU, Lovepreet Singh has written a mail to the director general of ICAR. He said, “It is sad and worrisome to see that the ICAR website has been misused by the ICAR authorities to give the wrong impression among the common man of the country that the students of agriculture favour the new farm laws.” A senior research fellow at the department of plant breeding and genetics, PAU, Harmeet, said, “Being a postgraduate researcher at the PAU as well as an aware citizen of India, I strongly oppose these new farm laws. I, along with my colleagues, believe that these laws are death warrants for our farmers and blessing for corporates. This exaggerated statement should be removed with immediate effect from the webpage of this reputed platform, which is currently letting the wrong perception to be developed among the people of the country.” Davinder Singh, another student from the university, said, “It is sad and worrisome to see that the ICAR website has been misused by the ICAR authorities to give the wrong impression among the people of the country that the students of agriculture favour the new farm laws. No one has inquired about my views on the new farm laws. Kindly, remove the post as I strongly oppose these. These laws will benefit corporates only. These are bad for farmers as well as consumers. I hope that my request will be given due consideration and the post will be removed.” Bikramjit Singh, who has completed his postgraduation from PAU in agriculture economic said, “I am in discord with farmers laws, however, the ICAR website is flashing wrong information that agriculture scientists and students are supporting it. This is merely wrong because there is no survey conducted by any authority or council about these laws. Hence, we will like to reach out to the government and ask it that strict action should be taken against the officials who have represented us in the wrong manner.” He further said, “Being a research scholar in agriculture, I strongly oppose these new farm laws. No one has inquired about our views on the same. The post should be removed as we strongly oppose the new farm bills. These laws will benefit corporates only. These are bad for farmers as well as consumers. I hope that our request will be given due consideration and the post will be removed.” Jagwinder Singh Chahal, who is pursuing MSc, extension education, said, “Firstly, no one had come to inquire about the reactions of students and researchers at various agricultural universities on the new farm laws and no survey had been conducted on it. However, in which context the ICAR is flashing the same on its official website. It is sad to see that the ICAR is flashing that students and researchers favour the new farm laws on its official website. This flashing headline should be removed.” Another PhD research scholar of the department of extension education, PAU, said, “As an agricultural student, I strongly oppose the new farm laws and support the farmers’ protest. Misuse of the ICAR website by the ICAR authorities is very sad and worrisome and also a non-democratic approach because till date, no survey has been conducted to enquire the students' view.

The Times of India

2020-12-31

Ludhiana