Farm laws will increase suicides, displacement from land: Farmers' working group

Prime Minister’s poser to pass off the Farmers’ demands as ‘Opposition led misinformation’ has been castigated by the Working Group of AIKSCC as an attempt to draw attention away from his Farm Acts which empower the Corporate and MNCs, while eroding the livelihood means of farmers.

"He is avoiding the issue focussed and raised by the farmers' protest, that this is “Farmers versus Corporate” interests and GOI is standing with the Corporate and MNCs," AIKSCC alleges.

It adds, "PM’s pleading that opportunities for farmers will increase, alternatives will come in, there is nothing barring old system from operating etc. are blatant lies. The Acts clearly mention that trading will be done by private corporations and the crop rates will be decided by online exchanges, not MSP rates, which is the old system."

The Corporations were hitherto barred by law from trading.

"These laws give them opportunities, make them the alternative in dictating terms of farming, purchase, processing, storage, and marketing of food," the Working Group of AIKSCC said.

In a press release, the Group also added, "Farmers are correctly pleading while the Prime Minister is not listening, that Contract farming, Corporate Private Mandis, etc. will finish freedom to do farming, will increase input burden, debts, losses and increase farm suicides and displacement from land. PM has claimed free availability of fertilizers, but has tried to hide that prices have more than doubled during his tenure."

Farmers are extremely vocal and say that the PM has gone all out to attack earlier demands of farmers for MSP, govt procurement, loan waiver, cheap fertilizers, and inputs.

"PM has claimed that the old system has failed and he has brought these laws as a new system. The new laws give direct charge and monopoly on farming to the corporate world. This is what farmers in Delhi are trying to tell him, to which he has turned a deaf ear," the Working Group said.

AIKSCC has appealed to the PM to stop pretentious sloganeering that “Annadata Aatmanirbhar Bharat ki Aguai Karega” as his laws and policies are pushing them to “Annadata Companiyon ka Gulam Banega”.

AIKSCC has also attacked the 3 farm laws and FB 2020 for promoting black marketing, raising food prices, and finishing off PDS and food security for the poor. It said the PM is running away from giving answers, making a mockery of talks, but soon the Farmers movement, whose ranks are swelling and whose determination to stay put is rising, will force him to reckon with reality.

Working Group of AIKSCC has appealed to the Delhi AAP govt to immediately withdraw its notification of the New Mandi Bypass Act in Delhi and to come clean on whether it is supporting the farmers or the Corporate.