Here Is Why Farmers Across India Are Protesting Against The Two Bills Passed By Lok Sabha

In a dramatic turn of events, Union minister Harsimrat Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has resigned from her post, amid growing protests by farmers across the country.

Badal, who was the lone representative of the SAD in the Modi cabinet resigned on Thursday to protest the Lok Sabha passing two contentious bills, which farmers say will have an adverse impact on their livelihood.

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The Lok Sabha had on Thursday passed the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 as well as the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.

Contentious bills

Both the bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on day one of the Monsoon session. The bill will replace the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 promulgated by the President on June 5 this year.

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Farmers fear they will no longer get paid at MSP, while commission agents fear they will lose their commission.

Farmers unhappy

Farmers protesting against the newly-passed Bills have also noted that they are only likely to enhance the corporatisation of the agriculture sector, leading to reduction of farmers' bargaining power and crippling them financially.

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Amid the fears of the farmers, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had clarified that these Bills will bring revolutionary changes in the lives of farmers. He asserted "MSP was, MSP is, and MSP will continue in the future".

Explaining about the benefits of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 as well as the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, Tomar said both the legislations will fulfil the expectations and the need of the country from agriculture. Besides, the minister said, the farmer will get attracted towards comparatively good crops, and if the farmer produces costly crops his income will automatically increase and he will also support agriculture growth.

"These Bills will also help in agriculture export." Tomar said around 86 per cent are small farmers. "If these farmers manage to know the fixed price of their produce in advance through any law they will be able to do profit farming."

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The minister asserted that "these bills will not affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP)" and that these will help in making the farmers more advanced. "MSP was, MSP is, and MSP will continue in the future."

Minister assures farmers it won't harm their well-being

Tomar said through both these reforms, the farmer will connect directly with the big traders and exporters, bringing profit to agriculture. "These bills will bring revolutionary changes in the lives of farmers."

But the farmers are not convinced and they have vowed to step up the protests across the country, which is the most intense in Punjab and Haryana now.

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Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has announced to hold "rail roko" agitation from September 24 to September 26 to lodge their protest against the three agriculture ordinances passed by the Union Cabinet.

"We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 against the three agriculture ordinances," Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher told ANI.

"Those who are saying the ordinances will help the farmers are lying. On the contrary, we will become the pawns of corporates. We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to us. And request all farmers throughout the country to come out and stand against these ordinances," Pandher had said.