New Delhi, Nov 19, : , Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Friday that he would repeal three of the farm laws.This has been greeted with cheers by agitating farmer organizations.Anil Ghanawat (a Maharashtra farmer leader who was among the three members appointed by the Supreme Court to review farm laws) has criticized the Supreme Court’s decision.
Ashok Gulati, his co-panelist, had a cautious response.
He wanted to wait until the announcement of the commission by the Prime Minister for broader consultation.
In conjunction with Guru Nanak Jayanti’s auspicious occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Friday that the three controversial farm laws had been repealed by Parliament last year.
He said the Constitutional process for repealing the laws will be discussed in Parliament’s winter session, which begins November 29.
Modi announced that he would form a committee with representatives from the Centre, states governments, farmers and agricultural scientists to examine how minimum support price (MSP), zero-budget farming, and scientific ways to change crop patterns.
Ghanawat, who is the leader of Shetkari Sanghatana, was speaking to IANS by phone from Mumbai.He said that this was a terrible decision both for the farmers and the nation as a whole.The laws gave farmers some market freedom.These laws were repealed and the laws will continue to be in effect.
They are the same laws which have led hundreds of farmers suicide.
Ghanawat explained that cotton can be bought at a good price and the government has the option to set a limit on its stock using the Essential Commodities Act.Or, it can use the Foreign Trade Act, which can ban exports, which would lower the price.The same can be done with soyabean or other crops.
Ghanawat stated that he would be arriving in Delhi on Monday and will first meet two other members of the Supreme Court-appointed committee.
He said, “If it was possible, we would make the report public.”
Ashok Gulati was however his co-panelist and had a cautious response.
The Prime Minister clearly stated that reforms were desired for farmers’ welfare, but did not communicate with them.
This committee is expected to have more consultations and will hopefully suggest better reforms.He said, “Let us wait for this.”
P.K.was the third member of the committee, which the Supreme Court appointed.Joshi was appointed by the Supreme Court in January of this year, while he remained within the scope of three farm laws.
In March, the committee submitted its report.The report was not made public or used by the Supreme Court.
Ghanawat, in September had requested the Chief Justice India to make the report public so the recommendations of the chief justice could be applied by the government to resolve the farmer’s agitation.
After several rounds of negotiations with farmers, the government did not make any progress.
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