Jubilee Post News & Views
Sudhir Kumar
Winning election and proficient governance are two different skills. Duo might have excelled in the art of winning election but proficient governance yet seem to be a far cry.
Seizure of Delhi by the agitating farmers of Punjab with symbolic support of farmers of Haryana since last two fortnight against the introduction of three agricultural bills by the central government and their demand of repealing them is causing great inconvenience and hardships to people of Delhi & NCR and also seem to be an ordeal for the central government.
Several rounds of meetings too did not bear any fruitful result and standoff still continue. The protest is surprisingly peaceful and the protestors have exhibited so far unprecedented unity. Amidst the biting cold and inclement weather and with no immediate truce in sight, the enduring discipline and ‘soldierly spirit’ of agitating farmers is highly commendable. The nation is sympathetic to their mode of protest and a serious measures be taken to resolve the impasse/ stand off. Their patience need not be put to test. Any nefarious design to malign the agitators by calling them ‘khalistani’ or ‘anti national’ is highly deprecated. We must pray that good sense prevail and government machinery distances itself from any such malicious and derogatory remarks.
Though the recently introduced 3 agricultural bills are said to be long overdue and a milestone in much needed agricultural reforms. Most of the leading agricultural economists and scientists have very logically and strongly supported the agricultural reforms bill and have minutely analyzed the contents therein in their various columns and articles. But the ‘timing’ and ‘mode of introduction’ have raised many eyebrows.
These agricultural reforms in the form of 3 agricultural bills are said to be and being equated to that of historic economic reforms of 1991 under the aegis of then finance minister Manmohan Singh ji, which changed the dynamics of Indian economy with phenomenal boost.
But why so much of clamor and protest. The reasons are not too far to discover. The government has the notoriety of taking decisions, though well intended, but always with a tinge of arrogance, arbitrariness and not being prudent enough to make it ‘appropriately timed’.
To cite a few devastating ‘demonetisation’ wrecked economy to the point of no repair. Much publicized elimination of black money and mitigating/curbing acts of terrorism were misnomer, farce and misguiding. It did no good to any section of society and caused indescribable miseries. Ironically the wrong doers are yet adamantly unrepentant.
Zest & fervour of implementing GST soon got fizzled out because of inherent shortcomings it contained. Cumbersome compliances and unreasonable framing of tax slabs invited severe criticism from all stakeholders .The well intended mission fell prey to obnoxious design and the credibility of government, for not being farsighted & meticulous, was at stake. It not only resulted in unexpected decline in tax collection but also caused great hardships to traders and consumers.
Again introducing CAA/NRC bill just immediately after the abrogation of article 370 in J & K was it not ill timed and imprudent and abruptly paved the way for dissidence and protests to one section of people who somehow ‘despised and hated’ Modi for displaying ‘strong and unestimable political will’ by abrogating article 370. The introduction of CAA/ NRC witnessed impromptu countrywide voilent protests.
The ugliest was the riot in Delhi which not only marred the President Trump visit but also caused irreparable loss to India’s secular image. And not to underestimate the indefatigable but ‘ill motived’ Shahen Bagh ‘stand off’ which was propagated to symbolize like of ‘disobedience movement’ and its sustenance unpalatably embarrassed government and even apex court intervention failed to resolve the impasse. But for ultra fear of pandemic covid 19,it could not have been rounded up so easily. Who should be discredited for the avoidable fiasco countrywide?
And came the monster pandemic worldwide. It gripped the entire humanity and so every nation panicked. India too had to counter the menace by taking strong preventive measures.
It started with a day symbolic curfew and then a sudden lockdown, resulting in inexplicable miseries and inconvenience. In a nation with almost 1350 million population and estimated 300 million in transition can not be brought to a standstill with a stroke of whimsical decision. There are innumerable untold stories of miseries but worst came in the form of mass exodus of poor migrant labourers. It not only brought irreparable disrepute to the country but also made us hanged our heads in shame.
And now the controversial 3 agricultural bills .They were long overdue but modus operandi of it having passed in upper house has obviously cast aspersions on the intention of the government. Why should it be passed through voice vote once the ruling party had manageable majority. The stigmatized act made the government vulnerable to severe criticism of being headstrong and flaunting the democratic norm. The government needed to be more patient ,tolerant and transparent in their conduct.
Above measures though well intended but lacked farsightedness and meticulous homework and so the present deadlock. The government ought to have more interactive and consultative before suddenly introducing it in the midst of pandemic.
The 3 agricultural bills broadly deals in Apmc, Contract farming and Storage respectively. The apprehension of agitating farmers as regards with Apmc is unfounded. The act does not eliminate the Apmc but broadens it by allowing unrestrictive entry. Let the market forces decide the price and for sure the farm products will fetch better prices. The role of unending chain of persecuting middlemen, in the process of procurement and pricing, could be minimized if not eliminated .But of course, the statutory rider has to be there to protect the interests of the farmers, hence MSP has to be given a legal shape.
Contract farming will certainly attract big corporates and private players to enter in to farming. So more farmers friendly rules have to be framed to keep their interests protected. Farmers apprehension of losing the right of ownership of land is absolutely false and unfounded. The vested interests are losing no opportunity to mislead and misguide. The act must provide the farmers option of seeking relief in civil court in case of any litigation.
Repealing the draconian provisions of essential commodities act is highly commendable initiative. It was long overdue. To promote free trade and free marketing the provisions of ‘limited storage’ had to be relinquished. The new act in no way adversely affect the interests of the farmers. The apprehension and unexplained fear is unfounded.
Freeplay emboldens the various functionaries of economy and is bound to boost it. Precedence of economic reforms of 1991 is quite often quoted.
It is worth pondering the causes which led to such strong protest despite bills having vociferously hailed by the agricultural economists and scientists. It is not merely political opposition but lack of faith and diminished credibility are core reasons.
Though the government has the ability to take strong decisions and has also exhibited exemplary political will on most of the occasions but has fumbled too as relates to their smooth implementation. The element of being adequately interactive and consultative is lacking. And so it falters and make rhetoric ‘self-goal’.
Serious measures required now to break the ice and diffuse the impasse. Any element of ego and shrewdness is not going to work. Both parties have to come to negotiating table with reasoning and open mind. Government must accede to their genuine demand like giving statutory status to MSP, option of moving to civil court , not abolishing apmc etcetra.
P.M Modi appears to have taken control of the steering and damage control measures have begun.
–Live healthy discussion with farmers throughout country in his latest Man Ki Baat,
–Releasing 18000 cr.in the accounts of farmers
–and not the least paying homage to martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur by his sudden and unscheduled visit to Gurudwara Rakabganj.
Its thundering, raining with mercury dipping to its record low. Govenment need to have big heart in amicably resolving the crisis as hundreds of thousand farmers protesting amid most inclement weather with limited resources. Hats off to their ‘soldierly spirit’.
The 7th round of talk is in offing. let’s hope good sense prevails and a respectable truce is arrived at.
And to the most energetic and strong government the nation ever had…. Do not overplay and make self goals…
(Author is Retd. Officer of IAS)
