BBKU (Ekta Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal, one of the senior-most leaders of the ongoing protest against Centre’s new agriculture laws, said the central government did not appear to be serious on farmers’ demand and was adopting all means and methods to suppress the movement, either by creating a division among farmer unions or through other pressure tactics. According to him, it all began after Union home minister Amit Shah replaced his agriculture counterpart, Narendra Tomar, on the negotiation table.
Reacting to reports which term the ongoing protest as a “rich farmers’ agitation”, Dallewal said farmers were not living in the Stone Age and had all rights to live a decent life, like those in urban areas. In a candid chat with TOI, he said farmers in Punjab were under a debt of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore. He said they were living in such harsh conditions at the protest site, which the ‘rich’ could not even think of for a few hours.
Are you in a position to accept an offer which is less than repealing laws?
As far as less than repeal is concerned, it means acceptance of the government proposal of amendment. This means laws would continue and existence of new private mandis parallel to government mandis. Privatisation has always left government infrastructure redundant, which is evident from the way health, education and transport sectors in government have been left almost useless after privatisation. We know these private mandis would give us better prices during the initial two-three years. During this period, government mandis would be rendered useless and, gradually, the government would close them for being useless. It is then that the exploitation of farmers would begin. If the government’s mandi structure and FCI purchase is stopped, farmers would be finished. This is why we want repeal of laws and nothing less than that.
How do you react to reports that agitation is restricted to Punjab and Haryana only?
Absolutely false and baseless. If that is so, why is the Uttar Pradesh government asking farmer leaders of UP to furnish Rs 50 lakh sureties for stopping them from leading the agitation. Farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have been strongly supporting us. In some states, the government machinery is being used to restrain farm leaders from coming to Delhi to support the movement. I would say the movement is not restricted to two states or the country, but has now globalised.
The Union government has been claiming that an open market would give farmers more returns than the returns from MSP. What is your opinion?
We do not think farmers would benefit from an open market. I will explain it with examples. The MSP of maize in Punjab was Rs 1,840 per quintal, but it was not sold above Rs 1,100-1,200 in the open market. If there are high returns, why is paddy from Bihar and UP being sold only in Punjab. The price of wheat never fell below the MSP after the procurement process was over. But, for the first time, the price of wheat is cheaper than the MSP in the market.
How do you react to reports that the ongoing protest is only by rich farmers?
Such reports are based on the basis of good clothing and other resources being used by farmers coming to the protest. Farmers are normal human beings; they are not living in the Stone Age. What if they wear jeans and have good agriculture machinery or implements. Their profession is farming. Farming communities in Punjab have around Rs 1.5 lakh crore debts. Those making such allegations should come and see how these farmers are surviving in the most unhygienic and tough conditions at protest sites. This narrative of rich farmers is given by the government to scuttle the movement.
How long will the agitation continue? What is the way out?
You should ask this question to the government. We have come to their doorstep with a request to accept our demands. It is entirely up to the government as to how long they would keep us waiting. We are not stubborn or politically motivated. Government should understand that our agitation is not to cause loss to any political outfit and benefit to others. We will leave within hours after acceptance of our demands. We have lost a large number of farmers in the movement and do not want to lose more.
What are your observations on the Centre’s response to the agitation so far?
Completely hostile, non-serious towards farmers’ demand and agitation, and more focus is on creating a divide between farmers unions by adopting cheap tactics. When Union home minister Amit Shah invited us, we thought the Centre was serious about our demands, but the meeting was only a change of face as Shah had replaced Tomar in discussion. Nothing was done, but the Centre sped up parallel efforts to create a division among farmer groups. Some useless and insignificant farmer unions were formed and invited for talks to weaken our struggle. Sponsored PILs were moved before the Supreme Court to divert the attention of the movement. I would say, till now, the government does not appear to be serious on considering farmer demands. Even an attempt was made to create a division between Punjab and Haryana farmers, but, thankfully, the people of Haryana rejected their nefarious designs.
How do you see raids on arhtiyas by central agencies?
Arhtiyas and artists are being harassed through ED raids by the Centre only because they have been supporting farmers’ protest. These raids only reflect the weakness of the Centre, which is afraid of this movement and adopting cheap tactics. They should not be harassed.
What is your long-term strategy?
This agitation is not run by a single organisation, association, body or union, but a group of associations and unions. When groups are leading the agitation, several things are discussed, opinions of everyone are taken into account, and decisions are taken as per their sentiments. Strategies would be conveyed from time to time.
Can farmers afford to leave their fields for long?
When we launched the protest on November 26, it was wheat-sowing season, but farmers still participated in it. Farmers are participating in the agitation in rotation and continuation of agitation for around one month without much hindrance is a sign that it will survive for long. More people are visiting the site than those going to look after their fields and families.
Considering the huge losses being faced by vegetablegrowing farmers, do you think there should be MSP on vegetables as well?
The state of Kerala has already done it. We want that MSP should be available for all agricultural produce of farmers and there should be a strict law providing penal provision for those selling less than this.