The ‘DilliChaloMovement’ has entered its 6th day and pressure on the centre is growing. The farmers protesting along the borders of Delhi are not only demanding to scrap the new three agricultural laws implemented by the Central government, but they are also demanding to relax over penalties associated with stubble burning, including others.
The list of demands of farmers is quite long but there are a few important ones.
- The first demand by the farmers is to withdraw three new agricultural laws which include the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Act 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agreement on Agricultural Services Act 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The Farmers' associations believe that by these laws the corporate will earn profits and not the farmers. Especially, it will be worse for the small scale Kisans.
Contrary to all claims by the farmers, the Center maintains its stance that farmers will benefit from these three laws and these laws would improve the agriculture sector.
- The second demand of farmers is the guarantee of MSP to ensure procurement of crops at minimum support price (MSP). Farmer’s organisations want the Central government to provide them with the security of MSP. However, the government has promised to continue procurement on MSP and is also presenting an example of the record procurement of other crops, including wheat and rice during the tenure of the current government.
- The third demand of farmers is the removal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill because they consider due to the passing of this bill they will not get free electricity.
Addressing the matter of the Electricity bill, Harendra Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), said that farmers in Punjab get free electricity. If the new bill is implemented farmers won’t receive free electricity if power distribution is privatised.
- The fourth demand of farmers is to terminate the fine and jail sentence for stubble burning.
Harendra Singh said that a provision of five year-jail sentences and Rs one crore fine made for stubble burning should be revoked as it is unreasonable. Along with this, farmers are also demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers for burning stubble.
- The fifth demand of farmers is to implement MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
Source: IANS