Shiban Khaibri
An “Ann Datta” as an Indian farmer is termed respectfully, cannot rain stones on passenger buses unmindful of the seating passengers , men, women and children. They cannot be believed to cause destruction of public and private properties to an extent we saw last days in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh where the Chief Minister is believed to be farmer – friendly. It is also surprising that in spite of the state registering as much as 20% growth rate in agriculture during the tenure of Shivraj Chouhan, there should be wide spread protests followed by violence. Equally, farmers cannot solely and willingly afford to pour to destroy milk on roads for full four days and do the same with some vegetables. No Government worth the name, at the same time, can use force on agitating people for redressing of any of their grievances to the extent of causing death to six agitating citizens of this country unless the situation goes completely out of control. Was there a firing from the mob also and if so, who were involved in it, could only be known after a proper probe was ordered into the entire violence.
Farmers, undoubtedly deserve more and more facilities and concessions, besides other considerations, to motivate them continuing to remain in agricultural activities. It is intriguing to note that farmers are led to believe gross injustice being meted to them by the present Government than normally the level of discontent nursed by them. They do have problems. Their problems are undoubtedly addressed but perhaps the mismatch of level of resolution with the piled up problems for the last decade, are the causes of their expectations from this Government not getting responded to.
What is the cause of the discontentment despite a good monsoon and bumper crops last year? Are our policies dealing with agricultural economy seething to undergo a change? Are mounting family pressures on limited agricultural land in the sense of there being not enough non farm job opportunities, one of the major causes of unrest? Have our strategies and policies dealing with this vital sector of the economy that supports over 50% of our population proved as patch works and ad hoc measures? Are farmers’ traditional cereal crops not fetching them sufficiently enough and could a switch over to more cash crops including fruits and vegetables address the problem to a larger extent? Are Congress led opposition parties not responsible to choke present Government’s fast reforms and innovative measures to create nonfarm jobs simultaneously with engagement in agriculture? The wrangling on the Land Acquisition Law , the unprecedented humps created , protests and campaign against the bill by the opposition mainly Congress, led to its withdrawal by the government . It could have created a very much required infrastructure including employment opportunities for the farmers as companies, after acquiring lands, could have erected business concerns. Even the Government could have constructed health centers, hospitals, cold storages, ware houses, irrigation canals and ensured connectivity between the farm and the market. Since the opposition led by Congress smelt the Government winning brownie points and show still better on performance , it at the same time, saw in it their prospects for 2019 very bleak and hence the teething problems created. Congress led opposition “convinced” farmers that their lands were forcibly planned to be acquired and “Aap kay munh say aap kaa niwala csheena ja raha hai” or small morsels are intrigued to be snatched from out of your mouths.
On the contrary, a trend to promise waiver of loans at the time of going to the elections by the political Parties is made in the burst of enticing the farming community to vote for them and thus mop up votes in their kitties. Those who win, find it extremely difficult later to implement the promise in entirety, given the financial position of the Governments in states or at the centre. Those in opposition, constantly use a pick at the ruling party for not waiving off farmers’ loans and try to highlight, often exaggerate, their plight thus taking a sadistic pleasure of the predicament of the government. Where does it lead the country to ? While writing these lines, Maharashtra Government announced loan waiving scheme for the farmers to the utter “satisfaction” of the farmers. The nuts and bolts of debt relief are to be shaped and decided by a nominated committee. Dharnas and protests stand suspended and not totally withdrawn. Some leaders feigning out of box sympathy for the farmers, are now stressing upon waiver of ALL loans in addition to farm loans. In UP , likewise farmers have not only been paid piled up arrears of sugarcane produce from sugar factories but loans of small and marginal farmers stand waived. How will thousands of crores of Rupees be arranged by the state governments even after sharing some burden by the centre? To call a spade a spade, these are loathed with the sustenance of the Banking system and threaten even their very survival. Now, even those numerous farmers who tend not to be willful defaulters, shall review their commitment of the promise to repay the loans on demand. There shall be a premium on defaulting in loans repayments as Governments after Governments, shall more or less treat farmers’ loans as irrecoverable and treat as written off from day first. And farmers overall stand not benefitted, only the political parties do, as they bake their political loaves from the incidents like Mandsaur. Is waiver of farmers’ loans a long term and the only solution ?
What about the allegations against many farmers that they take loans for promoting farming but wantonly end use is violated on marriages, and other personal expenses . The classical rule of bankers giving loan money direct to the suppliers of seeds, pesticides, urea and other farm requirements are often changed to pay them in cash. The cardinal rule is that the farmers must get reasonably adequately over and above the input costs. The Government needs to ponder over it.
Let the vital issue of “political pilgrimage” by ever-ready leaders be analyzed following incidents where the ruling dispensation could be in tight spot in one way or the other. What purpose was served by Rahul Gandhi , Vice President of Congress trying to reach the troubled spot in no time, as he put it, to “show his solidarity” with the farmers. He similarly rushed to Saharanpur and at both these places, defied administrative orders and even at Mandsaur had a session of pushing and shoving with the policemen. He was spotted riding a pillion on a motor bike without wearing a helmet. He did not condemn some of his leaders trying to fuel the fire as watched by millions of the countrymen. Nor did he condemn the violence by the mob. Others in the opposition did not utter a single word against turning an expected peaceful demonstration into “free for all ” , large scale arson, stoning and other forms of violence. Inciting the mob to put on fire “even a solitary vehicle” that passes by and to burn the police stations as alleged to have been told by some Congress leaders, could never on earth, by any logic, be construed as “solidarity” with the farmers. The assets destroyed neither belonged to the BJP, nor to Congress and nor to any other political Party. Now a vital question that Rahul Gandhi must reply is – agreed hypothetically, that Shivraj Chouhan’s policies are “anti farmer”, why did Rahul Ji not take up the matter with the State Government, hold press conferences and public meetings prior to Mandsaur violence ?Was he in wait for such opportunities to frantically attempt to find some favourable signs for his Party for 2019? What special economic theories and practical solutions could have been employed by him which Shivraj failed to do ? We would like to be enlightened on his innovative agricultural and economic policies not only for our agricultural colleges and universities but for other states including a few Congress ruled states to avert situations like Mandsaur. Do not do such a type of politics over farmers’ problems. Rahul Ji must explain as to why in January 1998, under his Party’s rule, 18 farmers were killed in police firing in Multai , MP if his Party’s rule was a “golden rule”.
Various flagship programmes undertaken by Shivraj Government all these years and now by the NDA for the last three years, agreeably are not sufficient enough to ameliorate the plight of farmers but sincere efforts have been made yielding results. Congress must not throw stones on others while itself living in fragile glass houses. It must prioritize on national issues of importance including of farmers but not in the way Congress leaders like Sandeep Dixit calling the chief of army staff as “sadak ka Goonda” or a roadside goon and getting scot free without facing any action from Sonia Ji or Rahul Ji. See the plummeted level of criticism.
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