Farmers Movement Archive

Former IAS & IPS officers support farmers’ agitation

Pilibhit: A former IAS officer, Vijay Shankar Pandey, known as a crusader against corruption, and UP’s former additional director general of police SN Singh, in a joint statement, called upon farmers on Tuesday to continue with their stir for the repeal of the Centre's three new farm laws.Taking to TOI on phone, Pandey said he, along with his group comprising a number of former government officials, fully supports the farmers’ demand for a law that guarantees minimum support price (MSP). He confirmed that SN Singh was a signatory to the joint statement.Pandey said he has been expressing his concerns through the media over the stubborn attitude of the Union government in finding an unanimously acceptable solution to the farmers' issues.“The Narendra Modi government should make a fair introspection of its mistakes without any further delay and listen to the protesting farmers in an unbiased manner, and take prompt corrective measures, as the issues affect 70% of the country’s population which is engaged in agriculture. After all, the growth of this largest segment of population will ultimately reflect in the overall national prosperity and increase in GDP (gross domestic product). The government needs to ponder about this with a fair perception,” he said.Pandey said his group has also decided to support the Uttar Pradesh Kisan Majdoor Morcha, consisting of 22 farmer unions in UP and agitating at the village level for the repeal of the three farm laws and for passing a legislation that guarantees MSP.“Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced on various platforms, including in Parliament, about the continuation of MSP, we are of the firm opinion that the farmers’ agitation should also continue till the procurement of the forthcoming wheat crop is ensured at full MSP across the country," Pandey said.The former civil servants and other prominent persons would now be deputed as observers for the cluster of districts to boost the morale of the protesting farmers and to ensure that farmers are not harassed by government procurement agencies, Pandey said.“These functionaries will also interact with the respective district magistrates and other officials concerned to ensure that middlemen are eliminated from the procurement chain and that farmers get full MSP," he said.The district-wise visit schedule of former civil servants would begin on March 15 primarily to safeguard the interests of the farmers, Pandey said.

The Times of India

2021-03-10

Bareilly