Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 25: While an official reaction from the farmers’ unions on the prime minster Narendra Modi’s over-emphasised insistence on blaming the opposition for “spreading myths and lies” over the three farm laws was still awaited, the BJP’s erstwhile ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) came down heavily on the central government for exhibiting a “callous and insensitive attitude” towards the farmers.
Within hours of Modi’s interaction with farmers during which the prime minister also released the installment of Rs 2,000 to about nine crore farmers across the country under the “PM Kisan Samman Nidhi,” on Friday, the SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Centre should stop defaming farmers and hold talks with them on ways to repeal its contentious agriculture laws.
The SAD president, in a statement, said the central government was exhibiting a “callous and insensitive attitude” towards the suffering of farmers who were braving the severe cold wave conditions at Delhi borders. “It almost seems that the government wants to punish the farmers for raising their voice against the three agricultural marketing laws which were forced through in the last parliamentary session. This is the reason why the centre has adopted a policy which is aimed at tiring out the farmers,” the SAD leader said.
Striking the familiar chord of opposition-bashing and the government’s oft repeated promise of “considering all concrete suggestions from farmers with an open mind,” Modi targeted the Opposition for “pushing a political agenda” by “spreading myths and lies” over the new farm laws. “Some parties are pushing a political agenda by opposing the new farm laws. Some people are spreading myths and lies that land will be taken away if farmers enter into contract farming,” he said.
Modi’s address to the farmer co-incided with the birth anniversary of the former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year celebrated as “Good Governance Day” by the BJP.
The interaction was part of a massive outreach programme planned by the government at a time when the talks between farmer unions and the Centre have hit a road block impasse over the farm legislations, which has drawn lakhs of farmers from neighbouring states to protest at Delhi’s borders which entered the 30th day on Friday.
“You would have seen that when the agitation started their demand was about MSP guarantee. They had genuine issues because they were farmers. But then those with political ideology took over,” Modi said. “MSP, etcetera were pushed aside and now what is happening. They are demanding release from jail of those accused of violence… They want highways toll-free. Why have they shifted from farmer’s issues to new demands,” he said. He alleged that those with political agenda are not letting farmers go into any dialogue with government to address their concerns.
He also said some people, whose names came up in the media for land grabbing, are now feigning concerns about farmers’ land.
Modi asserted that an overwhelming number of farmers across India have welcomed the new laws and are already reaping the benefits, and claimed that the BJP’s victory in the panchayat elections in some states as the testimony of the genuine farmers across the country supporting the three acts intended for agricultural reforms.
“Despite that, farmers across the country have wholehearted welcome agriculture reforms, I assure you that I will not let you down,” Modi said, adding that the government has connected over 1,000 mandis online, where more than Rs 1 lakh crore of trade has already taken place.
Other senior leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also took part in the BJP’s event.
Addressing farmers in Kishangarh village in Delhi, Shah said the Minimum Support Price for farmers would continue, mandis would not be closed and corporate would not snatch farmers’ land. “No corporate can snatch away any farmer’s land as long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister,” Shah thundered as he attacked the opposition for “spreading brazen lies.”
The defence minister suggested a middle route to break the present deadlock. Stating that the government had a lot of respect for the farmers protesting and would not do anything which wasn’t in their interest, Singh said, “Let the farm laws be implemented for year or so. If they are not beneficial for farmers, we will make necessary amendments.”
Both Shah and Singh called for farmers to reopen the dialogue with the government.
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said those misguiding farmers would be taught lesson by the public in future. “Those who are misguiding the farmers by becoming their sympathiser will be taught a lesson by the public in future,” Tomar said.
In a show of rejection of the prime minister’s renewed offer for talks without any “concrete solutions” scores of farmers protesting against the three laws beat plates, rang bells and banged plates in a demonstration timed with Modi’s address.
While Modi reached scores of farmers across the country, the BJP has also drawn an elaborate plan to defend the three laws and union ministers like Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Ramesh Pokhriyal and many more central ministers are scheduled to travel across the country to counter “misinformation” about the three farm acts.
