In recent times, the fissure between the Modi government and the country’s farmers has widened, marked by the failure of two rounds of talks since the inception of the Delhi Chalo agitation on February 12. At the crux of this discord lies the demand for legal guarantees on Minimum Support Price (MSP), an issue the farmers refuse to compromise on, contrary to the government’s assurances. The farmers’ scepticism towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promises, aptly termed as “Modi’s Guarantees,” is not unfounded. Time and again, the Prime Minister has made grand pledges, such as doubling farmers’ income by 2022, only to see them fall short of fruition. This rhetorical trickery has left the agricultural community disillusioned and emboldened in their demand for concrete action rather than mere rhetoric.
Central to the farmers’ agitation is the distortion in the agricultural market, exacerbated by legislative amendments favouring corporate interests over the welfare of farmers. These changes have allowed for legal hoarding of agricultural yields by corporate entities, leading to artificially inflated prices in the market while farmers struggle to make ends meet. The Modi government’s introduction of three contentious farm laws in 2020 further exacerbated tensions, aiming to introduce corporate interests into the agricultural sector without addressing the underlying issues faced by farmers. Despite prolonged protests and the eventual withdrawal of these laws, the scars remain, with the tragic loss of lives and families left uncompensated.
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At the heart of the farmers’ demands lies the issue of MSP, which the government sets at 1.5 times the Cost of Production (CoP). However, this formula fails to adequately address farmers’ concerns, prompting calls for the adoption of the MS Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation of C2+50 per cent formula. This formula accounts for a more comprehensive range of factors, including the interest on capital assets and rental values, ensuring remunerative prices for farmers. But the refusal of the Modi government to provide remunerative prices to farmers raises significant questions, particularly in light of the administration’s previous assurances of prioritizing agricultural welfare.
Despite pledges to double farmers’ income by 2022, the government’s actions have fallen short of this promise. Moreover, the recent formation of a committee to promote zero-budget-based farming, ostensibly aimed at enhancing transparency in MSP allocation, has faced criticism for its lack of representation from key farmer groups such as the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). This omission further deepens the mistrust between the government and agitating farmers, setting the stage for a third round of talks amid heightened tensions.
As the third round of talks between the Modi government and agitating farmers approaches, it is imperative for the government to prioritize the interests of farmers over corporate agendas. Transparency and accountability must be upheld, and genuine dialogue must pave the way for meaningful reforms that safeguard the livelihoods of millions dependent on agriculture. The time for empty promises and half-measures has passed. It is now incumbent upon the Modi government to demonstrate true leadership and resolve the longstanding issues plaguing the agricultural sector. Only through genuine collaboration and mutual respect can a sustainable solution be achieved, one that ensures the prosperity and dignity of our farmers. It is in this backdrop of mistrust between the Modi government and agitating farmers under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, a third round of talks is scheduled to take place soon. Let us hope that the Modi government takes care of the interest of the farmers, and does not insist on pushing corporate and business interests only, as it has been doing in the last 10 years with making false and unmet promises to farmers.
