Farmers Movement Archive

Farm ordinances downgrade democratic values, says Johal

Ludhiana: Renowned agriculture economist Sardara Singh Johal has termed the recent farm ordinances as “downgrading of democratic values”.Johal, who is the chancellor of Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, took to social media to express his observations. He wrote that it was no more a question of content, because the farm ordinances would surely be replaced by an Act after signing by the President.He observed, “Howsoever good or bad may the contents, there was no need of hurry to promulgate ordinances. These should have been put as bills only in Parliament. Even if ordinances were issued, before submitting as bill in Parliament, this period should have been used to invite all stakeholders, mainly farmers and their parties/ organisations and states individually to discuss the contents thoroughly and remove their apprehensions…Now when bills were put in Parliament, these should have been referred to the select committee to examine the issues threadbare and consult all stakeholders to develop understanding and consensus. I feel the majority of the ruling party in Parliament has been used rudely, and democratic values and system of the country have been crushed in a steamrolling manner (sic).”In a scathing attack on the Union government, Johal said, “On content we can have difference of opinion, which should be respected and reconciled, but downgrading the democratic values and system should not be acceptable.” Reacting to his post, netizen Gursharan Singh wrote, “Consultation with stakeholders is a critical missing point in this bill. The government must have included farmers’ unions and farm labourers’ collective groups…But I guess the BJP government has the decisive mandate to dismiss the interest of farmers.”

The Times of India

2020-09-19

Ludhiana