Should stop harassing farmers and provide solutions Instead of punishing farmers struggling with financial difficulties says Kumari Selja
Chandigarh: The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja has said that the first step taken by the BJP government in the state after taking the oath was against farmers. The new order by the government is another attack on the farmers of Haryana. Filing FIRs and imposing “red entry” for stubble burning to prevent farmers from selling crops at MSP for the next two seasons is not only authoritarian but also a direct blow to the livelihood of small farmers. Instead of punishing farmers struggling with financial difficulties, the government should provide a solution. Intimidating farmers will not solve the problem.
In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that action is being taken against stubble-burning farmers in Haryana, considering the increasing air pollution. An order issued by the government instructs filing FIRs against farmers who burn stubble. Not only this, such farmers will not be able to sell their crops for the next two seasons. Those involved will have a “red entry” recorded against them, preventing them from logging into the e-procurement portal. This order was issued on October 17, meaning that the government gave farmers their first “gift” after taking the oath. The truth is that this decision is entirely anti-farmer.
Kumari Selja said that the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of the state has sent this order to all Deputy Commissioners and Nodal Officers of the state. She said that if the government is so alert and vigilant about pollution, then why does it not take action against those who release toxic water into the Yamuna River? If a farmer makes a mistake, the government is ready to stop purchasing his crops along with filing an FIR. Criticizing this decision, she said that farmers are being punished for not voting for the BJP. She claimed that the government is directly trying to scare the farmers. Instead of doing this, the government should buy stubble from farmers and fix an MSP for it. Kumari Selja said that the government should not be under the illusion that just because it has formed a government, it should also know that 61% of votes were cast against it.
Kumari Selja said that farmers are currently the most troubled and helpless. The wheat sowing season has begun, but the government is not able to provide enough DAP fertilizer for wheat sowing. There is either a shortage of fertilizers, or if available, the vendors are forcing farmers to buy additional items along with fertilizers under the pretext of scarcity. Farmers are lining up from morning to get fertilizers; some get it, while others return empty-handed. The shortage of DAP fertilizer is becoming a problem for farmers. She questioned why the government did not make arrangements for DAP fertilizer beforehand, knowing that it is most needed during the sowing of wheat and mustard.
