Farmers protest: government to hold another round of talks with farmers on Wednesday
New Delhi:
The BJP responded to protesting farmers and the opposition today with nuggets from the past, reminding them that allowing private actors to enter the agricultural sector was their demand not so long ago. The BJP has come under attack from the new laws in the agricultural sector, where companies have played an important role, which has greatly upset farmers.
BL Santosh, BJP general secretary, today tweeted an article from the Punjab-based English daily the Tribune, titled “Allowing companies to buy wheat: farmers.”
“This was in 2008. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana demanded that companies be allowed agricultural marketing. Just understand the duplicity of the same unions now,” reads the attached tweet, which carried the hashtag #FarmersWithModi.
This was in 2008. Farmers from Punjab and Haryana demand authorization for companies in agricultural marketing. Just understand the duplicity of the same unions now. #FarmerswithModipic.twitter.com/J8axVbOkba
– BL Santhosh (@blsanthosh) December 6, 2020
Documents supporting the opposition to the entry of the private sector into agriculture have also appeared.
In November 2011, Sharad Pawar, then agriculture minister, urged states to give a green signal to mandis. A letter to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said: “The current APMC Law needs to be amended in accordance with the APMC Model Law of 2003 to encourage private sector investment in marketing infrastructure and provide alternative and competitive marketing channels. in the general interest of farmers, consumers and agricultural trade. “
For more than 10 days, farmers have been on the warpath, with tens of thousands camping at the entrances to Delhi. Several rounds of talks with the protesters have failed. The next round will be on Wednesday, the day after the all-India strike called by farmers and supported by the opposition and unions.
The BJP has argued that “real” farmers are with the government and support the laws of the agricultural sector. Those who protest are brainwashed by the opposition Congress or the anti-nationals. The word “khalistanis” has also been raised in this context. When asked about the possibility of “Khalistani elements” mingling in the farmers’ protest, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said: “We have input from some of those unwanted elements in the crowd,” reported the ANI news agency.
Farmers’ Protest: The next round will be on Wednesday, a day after the all-India strike called by farmers and supported by the opposition and trade unions.
Khattar state had received much criticism for its use of force on farmers, who had to repeatedly fight with water cannons, tear gas and barricades on their way to Delhi. Shortly thereafter, Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal accused Khattar of trying to “smear the farmers and their agitation”.
“The SAD strongly condemns the statement by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar calling our peasants who are agitating against the laws against farmers as Khalistani. This is a conspiracy to defame farmers and their agitation to pave the way for their repression with a brutal force “, his tweet read.
The new laws, aimed at cutting off middlemen and allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country, have deeply upset farmers. Farmers say it will only result in the phasing out of mandis and the guaranteed minimum price paid by the government, leaving them at the mercy of the corporations.
.
