In a series of tweets, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar explains what is wrong with Centre’s farm laws

Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday took to Twitter to explain his version
of what is wrong with the Centre’s newly enacted farm laws, which sparked
nationwide protest advocating complete repeal of the laws.

In a series of tweets, Pawar,
who was the agriculture minister for 10 years during the former Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh’s tenure, said that his prime concern with the new laws is that
they restrict the authority of Mandi system, which in turn can make farmers more
vulnerable.

Farmers’ protest Day 66 Live | Internet services temporarily suspended in Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri

“New agricultural laws restrict the powers of Mandi system i.e. the collection of levy and fees from the private markets, dispute resolution, agri-trade licencing and regulations of E-trading,” he wrote on Twitter.

The veteran leader also said that these new laws will said
the will adversely affect the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and suggested that
the MSP mechanism has to be ensured and strengthened further.

Raising
objections on the amendments made to six-and-half-decade old Essential
Commodities Act, Pawar said, “According to the act the Govt will intervene for
price control only if rates of horticultural produce are increased by 100% and
that of non perishable items increase by 50%.”

Pawar’s analysis of the farm laws comes as a counter to Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) allegations that similar reforms had been proposed by Pawar but couldn’t be implemented due to ‘political pressure’ and thus NCP has no business opposing the laws.

Clarifying
his stance, Pawar said, “During my tenure, the draft APMC Rules – 2007 were
framed for the setting up of special markets thereby providing alternate
platforms for farmers to market their commodities and utmost care was also
taken to strengthen the existing Mandi system.”

Pawar further articulated that reform must be introduced from time to time but should in no way become a cause of weakening a system.

Meanwhile, on the farmers’ protest front, senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on Saturday said that a record gathering is expected to emerge at various borders of Delhi by February 2 to provide mileage to their protest ongoing agitation.

Police security on the other hand, is being hardened in view of any potential violence following the tractor parade chaos.

Around 20 farmer leaders have been issued notices by the Delhi Police, asking why legal action should not be taken against them in connection with January 26 violence so far.