Chandigarh (Haryana): Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja on Monday claimed that the three recent ordinances related to the agriculture sector will leave small and marginalised farmers at the mercy of market forces leading to their exploitation.
Accusing the government of shying away from its responsibility to protect farmers' interests, the senior Congress leader feared that the next move will be scrapping of the minimum support price system.
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Eighty-five per cent of the country's farmers are small and marginal and the government's move will leave them at the mercy of market forces, the peasants will face exploitation at the hands of market forces, Selja told a news conference which she addressed digitally.
“The government is shying away from its responsibility. They will ultimately scrap the MSP system also,” she added.
She claimed this was another decision taken by the Centre without studying its impact on farmers or even common consumers.
This is like their demonetisation decision and the way they brought the GST, she said.
The Centre has promulgated three ordinances -- the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance.
Several farmers' outfits in Punjab and Haryana are protesting against these ordinances.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said some vested groups were trying to spread disinformation on the ordinances and mislead farmers.
Khattar had said both MSP and assured marketing continue unhindered.
He had said under the new system farmers will get the wider choice to sell their products to anyone without restrictions.
Some people are trying to mislead that the MSP system will be scrapped, which is baseless, Khattar had said.
Selja claimed the government has been making hollow claims of doubling farmers' income.
On the contrary, the government is increasing the hardships of farmers. Rather than extending relief to farmers during the present difficult situation created by Covid pandemic, the diesel rates have been increased sharply which adds to the input costs of the peasants. This directly impacts our farmers as well as common consumers, she said.
About the ordinances, she said, rather than simplifying things, these have been made more complicated. Our mandis, which are a key part of the state's economy, will be ruined under the new system and with one stroke all of this will end.
Only capitalists will flourish in this kind of arrangement and the farmers will face exploitation. This is like having the zamindari system in another shape with big companies to profit. Under this system, farmers will become bonded labourers.
When big companies will exploit them, will they be able to take them on and seek justice? The hardworking farmers who made our country self-reliant and self-sufficient in foodgrains will be tied up in chains, Selja claimed.
Referring to the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, she said, When there will be no limit to stock one's produce, it will lead to hoarding and black marketing.
When asked the government claims the ordinances were pro-farmers and will protect their interests, she asked, Why are the farmers protesting then, why are they against these ordinances?
She said whenever any anti-people or anti-farmer decisions have been taken by the government, the Congress has stood with those sections who have been hit and will raise its voice and stand with farmers this time too.
Replying to a question, Selja said she expects newly appointed Haryana BJP President O P Dhankar, who has earlier twice served as saffron party's Kisan Morcha president, to raise his voice on the ordinances' issue in the interests of farmers.
(PTI report)
