Backed%20by%20the%20entire%20Opposition%20amid%20the%20siege%20of%20Delhi%2C%20the%20Bharat%20Bandh%20on%20December%208%20may%20be%20a%20strong%20statement%20against%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%u2019s%20apparent%20impatience%20and%20style%20of%20ushering%20in%20changes%20in%20the%20name%20of%20betterment%20of%20farmers%20–%20by%20way%20of%20three%20new%20farm%20laws.%26nbsp%3B

Next%20day%2C%20that%20is%20on%20December%209%2C%20more%20than%20thirty-odd%20agitating%20farmer%20bodies%20and%20Union%20ministers%20should%20be%20sitting%20across%20in%20the%20Vigyan%20Bhavan%20for%20yet%20another%20round%20of%20discussion%20to%20resolve%20the%20former%u2019s%20misgivings%20over%20the%20farm%20laws%2C%20especially%20their%20fears%20over%20the%20future.

What%20is%20clear%20as%20on%20date%20is%20that%20both%20sides%20face%20a%20cliffhanger.%20Both%20sides%20cannot%20climb%20down%20easily%20without%20a%20face-saver.%3Cbr%3EAt%20stake%20is%20not%20just%20Modi%27s%20personal%20political%20capital%20but%20India%27s%20future%20ways%20to%20faster%20growth.%26nbsp%3B

These%20new%20farm%20laws%20allow%20for%20opening%20up%20of%20markets%20outside%20mandis%20and%20contract%20farming%2C%20besides%20doing%20away%20with%20the%20sections%20of%20the%20Essential%20Commodities%20Act%2C%20which%20seem%20redundant%20in%20an%20age%20of%20plenty.%20They%20do%20not%20disturb%20the%20Centrally-fixed%20minimum%20support%20prices%20%28MSPs%29%20guaranteeing%20farmers%20assured%20rates%20for%20various%20agri-produce.%26nbsp%3B

But%20the%20real%20fear%20of%20Punjab%u2019s%20agriculture%20businesses%u2014not%20just%20the%20growers%u2014%20is%20that%2C%20eventually%2C%20things%20may%20change.%20Any%20change%20for%20the%20good%20is%20inconvenient%20at%20the%20beginning.

Because%2C%20all%20players%20know%20that%20the%20Centrally-run%20Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%20%28FCI%29%20cannot%20go%20on%20buying%20their%20grains%2C%20most%20often%26nbsp%3Bof%20a%20poor%20standard%2C%20which%20is%20not%20sustainable%20when%20numerous%20godowns%20already%20overflow%20with%20stock%20built%20year%20after%20year.

So%20far%2C%20the%20Kisan%20%u201Cunions%u201D%2C%20who%20claim%20to%20speak%20for%20farmers%20who%20grow%20wheat%20and%20rice%20and%20their%20traders%2C%20have%20refused%20to%20budge%20an%20inch.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%20%7C%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/sukhbir-badal-calls-haryana-police-action-on-farmers-punjabs-2611%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ESukhbir%20Badal%20calls%20Haryana%20police%20action%20on%20farmers%20%27Punjab%27s%2026/11%27%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Instead%2C%20they%20have%26nbsp%3Btaken%20a%20maximalist%20position%u2014repeal%20laws%20or%20face%20their%20wrath.%20A%20blackmail%20tactic%20of%20sorts%20has%20seen%20an%20unprecedented%20siege%20of%20the%20Capital%20from%20all%20its%20road%20entry%20points%20%u2014%20be%20it%20from%20Haryana%20or%20Uttar%20Pradesh%u2014%20throwing%20hapless%20commuters%20in%20chaotic%20traffic%20woes.

The%20government%20has%20adopted%20a%20conciliatory%20approach%20thus%20far%2C%20willing%20to%20address%20the%20farmers%27%20misgivings%20over%20the%20new%20laws%20and%20even%20ready%20to%20give%20even%20written%20assurances%20that%20the%20MSP%20would%20continue%20if%20the%20Kisan%20unions%20drop%20the%20demand%20for%20repealing%20the%20laws.

Even%20as%20Union%20ministers%20like%20agriculture%20minister%20Narendra%20Singh%20Tomar%20have%20had%20exasperating%20moments%20during%20their%20talks%20with%20the%20Kisan%20union%20leaders%2C%20Modi%20has%20shown%20that%20he%20is%20willing%20to%20brave%20a%20brewing%20political%20storm%20because%20of%20his%20conviction%20that%20the%20government%20has%20done%20the%20right%20thing.%3Cbr%3EAt%20best%2C%20Modi%20would%20want%20the%20Union%20ministers%20to%20concede%20no%20more%20than%20four%20things.%26nbsp%3B

One%20is%20an%20offer%20to%20amend%20one%20of%20the%20new%20farm%20laws%20to%20levy%20trade%20fees%20%u2014like%20the%20officially%20state-notified%20mandis%20do%u2014%20for%20a%20level%20playing%20field.%26nbsp%3B

Outside%20businesses%20would%20pay%20the%20levy%20like%20the%20mandis%20do%20for%20the%20produce%20they%20contract%20to%20buy%20from%20farmers.%20This%20is%20because%20mandi%20operators%20fear%20their%20market%20would%20be%20wiped%20if%20other%20entrants%20do%20not%20have%20to%20pay%20tax.%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B

Secondly%2C%20instead%20of%20a%20free-for-all%2C%20new%20traders%20from%20outside%20any%20state%2C%20say%20Punjab%2C%20would%20have%20to%20get%20registered%2C%20display%20their%20price%20rates%20and%20show%20transparency%20so%20that%20mandi%20traders%20are%20not%20undercut%20by%20foul%20means%20–without%20endangering%20the%20competition.%26nbsp%3B

Thirdly%2C%20one%20of%20the%20new%20farm%20laws%20allowing%20for%20contract%20farming%20could%20be%20further%20tweaked%20to%20protect%20further%20land-owning%20rights%20even%20if%20its%20provision%20already%20debar%20any%20change%20of%20ownership.%26nbsp%3B

Lastly%2C%20disputes%20arising%20out%20of%20the%20new%20contract%20farming%20law%20can%20be%20dealt%20directly%20by%20civil%20courts%20%u2014instead%20of%20a%20sub-divisional%20magistrate%20within%2030%20days%20%28as%20provided%20in%20the%20new%20law%29.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/pm-modi-wont-rescind-farm-bills-wants-bjp-to-weather-storm%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EHelps%2080%25%20farmers%2C%20saves%20Rs%203%2C000%20cr%20paid%20to%20middlemen%3A%20Why%20Modi%20govt%20is%20not%20keen%20on%20repealing%20law%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

But%20the%20sticking%20point%20is%20the%20Kisan%20unions%u2019%20demand%20for%20an%20expressive%20special%20law%20that%20institutes%20MSP%20as%20a%20permanent%20mechanism.%20Modi%20won%27t%20concede%20on%20this%20score.

The%20government%2C%20agriculture%20experts%20and%20entrepreneurs%20consider%20this%20will%20lead%20to%20inflation%20and%20distort%20markets.%20Also%2C%20an%20MSP%20defies%20economic%20logic%3A%20no%20business%20will%20buy%20produce%20if%20there%20is%20no%20demand.%20So%20fixing%20MSP%20for%20private%20traders%20has%20no%20meaning%20as%20they%20will%20exit%20markets.%26nbsp%3BOnly%20the%20government%20buys%20at%20MSP%20rate%20because%20it%20would%20want%20to%20avoid%20distress%20sale%20by%20farmers%20if%20market%20rates%20fall%20below%20a%20particular%20price.%26nbsp%3B

After%20all%2C%20MSPs%20came%20into%20existence%20in%201965%20to%20encourage%20farmers%20to%20keep%20growing%20food%20crops%20when%20India%20faced%20severe%20food%20shortages.%20But%20today%2C%20the%20scenario%20is%20different.%26nbsp%3B

Already%2C%20the%20government%2C%20which%20sets%20MSP%20for%2023%20crops%2C%20buys%20only%20wheat%20and%20paddy%20year%20after%20year%20under%20compulsion%20even%20if%20FCI%20godowns%20are%20filled%20to%20the%20brim%20and%20PDS%20systems%20are%20flush%20with%20supplies.%20So%20much%20so%2C%20FCI%20has%20had%20more%20than%2097%20million%20metric%20tonnes%20%28MMT%29%20of%20grains%20against%20a%20buffer%20stock%20norm%20of%2041.2%20MMT%20since%20last%20June.%20This%20worked%20out%20to%20more%20than%20Rs%201%2C80%2C000%20crore%20in%20terms%20of%20financial%20outlay%20locked%20up%20in%20the%20stock.

Ideally%2C%20Modi%20believes%2C%20states%20like%20Punjab%20must%20diversify%20to%20other%20crops%20that%20bring%20better%20value%20for%20farmers%20and%20not%20just%20water-guzzling%20paddy%20and%20wheat%2C%20which%20may%20seem%20useful%20to%20grow%20because%20of%20the%20MSP%20and%20not%20because%20of%20great%20demand.%20The%20truth%20is%20India%u2019s%20nutritional%20needs%20have%20changed%20and%20so%20have%20consumption%20patterns.%26nbsp%3B

Could%20Modi%20handle%20the%20issue%20better%3F%20Perhaps%2C%20yes%20and%20no.%20The%20PM%u2019s%20critics%20have%20used%20the%20opportunity%20to%20drive%20home%20that%20should%20he%20have%20allowed%20for%20greater%20consultations%20within%20and%20outside%20Parliament%2C%26nbsp%3B%20a%20consensus%20on%20the%20agriculture%20reforms%20could%20have%20been%20built%20up.%20The%20mistrust%20could%20have%20also%20been%20avoided.%20But%20the%20problems%20and%20attitudes%20of%20the%20opposition%20and%20the%20government%20after%20the%26nbsp%3B2014%20and%202019%20mandates%20have%20little%20room%20for%20dialogue.

But%20then%2C%20has%20any%20reform%20ever%20happened%20out%20of%20a%20consensus%3F%20Then%20prime%20minister%20P%20V%20Narasimha%20Rao%u2019s%20economic%20liberalisation%20was%20not%20born%20not%20out%20of%20consensus%20but%20driven%20by%20an%20economic%20crisis.%20He%20faced%20a%20lot%20of%20opposition%20too%20even%20within%20his%20own%20party.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%20%7C%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/centre-is-open-to-dialogue-to-find-a-solution-haryana-cm-khattar-to-farmers%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ECentre%20is%20open%20to%20dialogue%20to%20find%20a%20solution%3A%20Haryana%20CM%20Khattar%20to%20farmers%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cbr%3ESimilarly%2C%20Covid-19%20has%20forced%20Modi%20to%20speed%20up%20opening%20up%20the%20agriculture%20sector%20after%20his%20government%20pledged%20Rs%20one%20lakh%20crore%20to%20boost%20farm%20infrastructure%u2014with%20a%20vision%20to%20see%20an%20average%20farmer%u2019s%20income%20double%20up%20by%202022.

His%20track%20record%2C%20as%20his%20aides%20claim%2C%20is%20what%20his%20government%20has%20done%20so%20far–%20by%20providing%20soft%20loans%2C%20reducing%20interest%20rates%2C%20providing%20Kisan%20credit%20cards%2C%20free%20availability%20of%20fertiliser%20and%20crop%20insurance%2C%20besides%20an%20outright%20direct%20payment%20to%20handle%20immediate%20costs%20of%20harvesting.%26nbsp%3B

Of%20course%2C%20the%20opposition%20sees%20a%20lot%20of%20misses%20by%20the%20government%20and%20is%20ready%20for%20a%20war%20against%20Modi.%26nbsp%3B

As%20PM%2C%20Modi%20knows%20he%20is%20in%20for%20a%20long%20haul%20even%20if%20reluctant%20BJP%20leaders%20are%20driven%20by%20doubts%20and%20fears%20of%20a%20huge%20political%20cost%20if%20the%20current%20stir%20gets%20out%20of%20hand.

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23FarmersProtest%22%20data-user-id%3D%22i2q9L5EgFmNs%22%20href%3D%22/topic/farmers-protest%22%3E%23FarmersProtest%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23BharatBandh%22%20data-user-id%3D%22VvS9WWWHOXd0%22%20href%3D%22/topic/bharat-bandh%22%3E%23BharatBandh%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23NarendraModi%22%20data-user-id%3D%22jDp4x2dV65uK%22%20href%3D%22/topic/narendra-modi%22%3E%23NarendraModi%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23BJP%22%20data-user-id%3D%22cqfihWqpWO59%22%20href%3D%22/topic/bjp%22%3E%23BJP%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23FarmLaws%22%20data-user-id%3D%22mZ9Lh9yZZ33C%22%20href%3D%22/topic/farmlaws%22%3E%23FarmLaws%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Delhi%22%20data-user-id%3D%22rzYqAK9lbk5U%22%20href%3D%22/topic/delhi%22%3E%23Delhi%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B