19th of November 2021 would be marked as a historic day on the calendars of every Indian especially the farmers of the country as the 3 farm laws appealed by the government were repealed by the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi.
While many see it as the step taken in the wake of the UP election in the year 2022, it is a master-stroke by BJP. Exactly a year before, the three farm laws were introduced by the government that was set to be implemented, the farmers decided to hold a protest and appeal to the government to take back the laws. It has been a year since the agitation started in the country and due to the continuous gift between the government and the farmers, the law has been announced to be withdrawn. Is it the end of the tassel?. No. Here are the top 6 demands made by the farmers to the PM Led BJP Government:
- The first and the foremost demand made before the Prime Minister is to mandate the MSP. The minimum support price (MSP) should be based on the formula of C2+50 per cent (meaning that 50% should be the cost price production) as a legal right for all crops and all farmers across India. This disparity of implementation would lead to the food crop value being inflated.
- The second demand is to withdraw the Power Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020/2021. The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 states to de-license power distribution. The farmers across, the country fears that it may reduce entry barriers for private electricity companies The SKM(Samyukta Kisan Morcha) said the government had promised to withdraw it, but it is still there in the picture.
- Farmers have asked for the removal of provisions to punish fellow farmers who burn stubble. Under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act for Delhi and its Surrounding Regions (CAQM) Act., there is a section of punishment for the same. The farmers have asked to remove the word criminal from that section.
- The farmers have requested to withdraw cases against the protestors that were held during the protest for the entire year. Farmers across the states of Bihar, UP, Haryana, Punjab had participated in the year-long protest and some were held by the government for protesting.
- It also demands the arrest and suspension of the Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni. He and his on being accused and the er section 120B in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy of October 3, 2020. Eight persons, including four farmers, were killed, as a car mowed them down.
- The sixth demand is for the issuing of compensation and rehabilitation for the families of 700-odd farmers who lost their lives during the protest. The farmer union has demanded land for a Shaheed Smriti Smarak (Martyrs’ Memorial) at the Singhu Border to mark their contributions and declare them as martyrs.
It would be interesting to see the course of the Government on these six demands as the elections are approaching. Whether the government would again take a unilateral way or a bilateral way for the discussion is still a suspense. Let’s hope it’s a quick and fair decision.
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