Day 15. Last night I heard murmurs from urban middle class India: why did farmers not agree to government proposals? The government even agreed to consider Electricity Ordinance, mentioned MSP, allowed state to levy taxes on private mandis, why did farmers not agree? What is really wrong with farmers? They just like to disrupt. Yada, yada …
Yes, dear urban India – so accustomed to haggling over two rupees with the vegetable vendor, but so prompt in paying marked price on branded stuff in malls – I get you.
Please know that the farmers’ demands to repeal all three ‘Black Laws’, making MSP mandatory for all farmers in the nation, and release of all political prisoners are non-negotiable. That is why the farmers do not want some face saving by the government, some middle path, and are calling for a special session of Parliament to fulfil their demands.
The reason is the three Farm Laws are unconstitutional.
Yes, the Laws have been framed by an elected government, but with no consultation with farmer groups. In fact, that was the first questions farmers asked the government? Who did you consult when making these Laws? No answer from government. We know the answer – crony capitalists. The Laws were also bulldozed through the Rajya Sabha by voice vote when the Opposition was absent. The recourse to court is really lengthy and indeterminate because we know the court’s decisions in recent past.
When it comes to Laws, there is always a letter of a law and a spirit of a law. What the current regime does is pay lip-service to the letter – Modi touching the steps of Parliament with his head when he got elected in 2014 – but completely invert the spirit of the law. In this case, while Agriculture is a State subject per our Constitution, the government has used Point 33 of the Concurrent List (which talks about trade of farm produce, look up) and brought in these draconian laws which will affect fifty percent of India – its rural, agrarian economy – and hundred percent food security. The farmers are producers, not traders. This is a very important distinction to maintain.
By scrapping the Essential Commodities Act, ECA, allowing traders to hoard unlimited quantities of farm produce, the government is throwing the entire country to unscrupulous traders. These traders will then manipulate the market and artificially hike prices of essential commodities. Remember 67% of our nation depends on the Public Distribution System for rations. What will happen to them? That is why the farmers have rejected the government proposals.
The farmers, my friends, are protesting for India’s food sovereignty and for the spirit of its Constitution. Let us, for once, abandon our urban prisms to understand them and support their struggle unflinchingly.
Please understand our urban mindsets vis a vis rural mindsets. We city folks, for various reasons, are so accustomed to negotiating for everything – jobs, salaries, housing, even food. Rural folks are direct – either something works or does not. That is why each year in the event of price depression, we see farmers abandoning their produce on roads, in fields. It is their desperation in the face of huge structural issues with agriculture.
This time it the farmers – and not the government – who has our nation’s best interest in their mind.
Support them.
Disclaimer: Though I have studied rural Panjab for my book, I know some of the farmer leaders in the protest, I have not been in touch with them during the course of this protest. I know they are busy with much bigger issues. I too am trying to learn and I am only contributing by amplifying the protest.
Tags: Constitution