Agri Bill 2020

 September 21, 2020

I’ve been pre-occupied by the events around the Agri Bill(s) 2020. I’ve watched as two of them have been pushed through parliament in a very undemocratic manner and become a law. Modi called it an historic moment for farmers but he seems to be blind to the fact that farmers have been agitating against the bill. He seems increasingly deaf to critical voices. 

 

I spent the morning watching a few recorded debates around the events, and listening to voices from different sides. I read a few articles to understand the reason for fear and to hear what the government was asserting. It claims these will give more control to farmers as it allows them to sell their produce to private parties. The BJP says that the only reason farmers are on the streets is that opposition has spread misinformation—one of their favourite responses to almost everything. Most agree that the old farmers market system needed reform but say that this is no reform. It is a move to bring corporates into the picture, corporates with clout and money, corporates who can afford small losses in the short term to create a monopoly in the long. One person opposing it even said that if Minimum Support Price to farmers was guaranteed in any one of the proposed bills/laws and not just promised by tweet or letter, then it would not oppose the bill. But MSP has not been included. Why?

 

Instead, in quick moves the bills have been pushed through both houses of parliament. In the Lok Sabha the move even caused an ally of the BJP to resign from cabinet. In the Rajya Sabha where the opposition claimed that the BJP did not have the numbers no division of vote was allowed by the deputy chairman even though it is a parliamentary rule that it must be allowed if even one member asks for it. Some asked for the Bill to be sent to a select committee but instead the bill was passed through with a voice vote. The opposition erupted in anger and as usual the BJP turned the tables and labelled them unruly instead of explaining why democratic parliamentary procedures were not followed. Today a few members of opposition were suspended because of their behaviour. What about action against the breaking of rules by the ruling party?

 

Another deep gash in democracy. 

 

What indeed was the urgency to railroad this through in such times? Why was it not sent to a select committee for scrutiny and debate? Why were stakeholders, farmer particularly, not consulted? 

 

Food and water the most basic of necessities in the hands of corporates. Shudder. Not water yet—though I remember when there was a move towards privatising water in Mumbai many years ago.

 

I thought of the privatisation of railways that Modi is moving towards. Of course it is described as liberalisation, to allow new parties to enter and thus encourage growth and better services. Same argument. Same probable outcome—of uncontrolled pricing, with the ultimate sufferer the common citizen being served up to corporate mercy. 

 

For some reason Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower came to mind. Here the world has collapsed due to climate change, wealth inequality and corporate greed. The poor are nothing more than slaves to the whim of the corporates. They own nothing, instead have growing debts to pay back which even their grandchildren won’t be able to clear. How far are we from this dystopia? One, two, three generations away? Closer? 

 

I wrote to my friend – the one who is on the other bank of the hope river—she hopes, I see the hopelessness. But together we have often found a meeting ground where our perspectives have helped us do good work in communities. Because of covid I can’t see her or work with her right now, but she wrote back promptly, saying the email was timely as she was preparing to be on a panel and my email made her more whole. She too was feeling despondent wondering where these moves would leave us citizens. 

 

No answers. We do need a stronger and more coherent political opposition. What else? Just asking the questions yet.

 

I’m running out of notebooks. I should just save paper and trees, and move to writing everything on my laptop or ipad.