Farmers vow bigger protest than 2020 against proposed agri marketing policy

Bharti Kisan Union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said after the meeting, “We have given an ultimatum to the Centre through the Punjab government that if this policy is implemented, we will launch a stronger movement than in 2020. We will not allow the corporatisation of agricultural marketing, as the Centre aims to hand over the market to corporate giants. Unlike the past, we are now organised nationwide, and we successfully ran a massive agitation before.”

Rajewal clarified that farmers were not against building silos for grain storage but insisted they should be in the public sector, not the private sector. He also accused the Centre of deliberately withholding Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) to favour corporate interests.

During the meeting, farmer leaders asserted that agriculture and marketing were state subjects, and the Centre had no authority to interfere. They alleged the Centre was undermining states’ rights and harming the federal system. The leaders demanded the Punjab government bring the draft policy to the Vidhan Sabha for rejection and assured Khuddian that all political parties would support the move.

Khuddian assured the leaders that the state government was consulting more stakeholders and would take strong measures to oppose the policy.

Prominent farmer leaders at the meeting included Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, Dr Darshan Pal, Manjit Singh Dhaner, and Ruldu Singh Mansa. They warned the Punjab government that aligning with the Centre on the policy would force them to protest against the state government as well.

Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala of Kirti Kisan Union suggested reopening trade through the Wagah border with Pakistan. He said this would provide access to Middle Eastern markets, benefitting farmers by reducing dependence on domestic buyers.

The meeting also saw criticism of the Punjab government, with farmers pointing out that India imports oilseeds worth $15 billion annually. Encouraging crop diversification could reduce this to below $10 billion, they said, but the government was unprepared to support such efforts.

Later, a press release from the state government stated that Khuddian had assured farmers that Punjab would not let the National Policy Framework harm their interests.

“The state government is concerned as this policy could have serious implications for Punjab and its farmers. We want to thoroughly analyse every aspect of the draft policy shared by the GoI,” said Khuddian. He added that consultations with agriculture experts and stakeholders would ensure no point was overlooked.

The minister, along with Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm Workers’ Commission Chairman Dr Sukhpal Singh, and Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ramvir, urged farmers to submit suggestions and comments to the Agriculture Department.

Farmers’ leaders expressed deep concerns over potential privatisation and monopolistic practices disguised in the policy. They alleged it was an attempt to reintroduce provisions from the repealed farm laws and urged further examination before the state’s response to the Centre.

The high-level meeting was attended by officials including Special Secretary Agriculture Harbir Singh, Director Agriculture Jaswant Singh, and PAU Director of Research Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt.

Embarrassment for the minister

Farmer leader Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala criticised the government for presenting a poorly translated Punjabi version of the draft policy, calling it a “Google-translated” document.

Rajewal corrected the minister when he mistakenly said the farm laws were pending, clarifying that they were repealed and that the Delhi border protest had ended 20 days after the repeal.

Rajewal also raised the issue of a Rs 290-crore diversification grant that lapsed due to bureaucratic delays, while Manjit Singh Dhaner reminded the minister of AAP’s unfulfilled promises, including MSP on all crops. Leaders also criticised the discontinuation of MSP for moong and the government’s failure to implement the Punjab Farmers Commission’s agricultural policy.

Jhanda Singh Jethuke said the lack of an implemented state agricultural policy was giving the Centre room to impose its policies. He urged the government to set a timeline for action.