As a series of massive protests have been launched by farmers in Punjab and Haryana against the farm Bills. This episode also saw Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigning as the Union minister which has put a question mark on future of SAD-BJP alliance. Sardara Singh Johl (93), renowned agricultural economist in an interview given to the Indian express describes how things would not have reached this flashpoint had the government listened to farmers.

Sardara Singh Johl, the Padma Bhushan awardee who is currently the chancellor of Central University of Punjab in the interview tells why government is legally bound to pay MSP for announced crops. Here are some excerpts from the interview:

What is your opinion on the content of the farm Bills against which farmers are agitating?

The Bill’s content is not the centre of the debate right now, but how the country’s democratic values were completely smashed. Firstly, it was not necessary to quickly declare the ordinances. Even if ordinances were issued, all stakeholders, mainly farmers and political parties from all states, should have been invited to discuss the contents and remove their apprehensions during this period, before submitting them as Bills in the Parliament. At the time when the Bills were tabled in the Parliament, they should have been referred to the selected committee to examine the issues. A consultation process should have been carried out with all stakeholders to develop the understanding and arriving at a consensus. The majority of the ruling party in the parliament was misused. Different points of opinion should have been respected.

Farmers have announced massive protests in Punjab and Haryana. What is the way ahead?

BJP, which leads the NDA government failed to listen to the farmers. The farmers must have been taken into confidence. Before building a consensus, they did not even try to talk to the farmers. They have not mentioned anywhere in the bills that minimum support price (MSP) will go. They did not even assure the farmers of not taking any such steps. Government still has time to call the farmers and speak with them, listen to them, make appropriate changes after thorough discussions. This should be done before the President signs them (the Bills). They still have time to avoid any violence which can occur in future. Farmers should ensure that common people should not suffer and are not inconvenienced because of their protests.

SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned as the Union minister. What is your take on that?

SAD chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, remained hell-bent at first on supporting the ordinances and tried every way to convince farmers that they are for their betterment. After this, his wife (Harsimrat) resigns (from Union Cabinet) saying she is doing it in support of farmers. This puts forth a question. Do they really have a stand? This is complete political expediency. It can be said that the couple did not even discuss among themselves and decide what stand they have to take. It was the political compulsion of Harsimrat to show support to farmers and resign. It is now upto Amarinder Singh as to how he will react.

The biggest apprehension of farmers is that MSP will go. What is your take on that?

The government is bound to stand in the market as a buyer of last resort for the crops’ MSP. Government is completely responsible and legally bound to buy produce at MSP for the announced crops. The government promised this to its farmers and if it does not get fulfilled, the government can also be dragged to court. MSP is announced before sowing starts so that farmers can decide and sow accordingly. But recently farmers had to sell their maize produce at lower rates than MSP. Sometimes government plays clever by announcing MSP lower than market rates for the crop which it does not wish to buy. It was the responsibility of the central government that it should have compensated the farmers who sold their maize produce at lower rates. But with the PM assuring that the MSP will not go, what was needed was to talk to farmers and take them into confidence before imposing the bills in such an undemocratic way.

What about the apprehensions of the farmers that corporate will exploit them?

It is not new in agriculture sector. Corporates and private companies are already working in this area. There are many players like Nestle, Adanis, and Reliance. They are already procuring produce from farmers. There is a question on motives of the corporates. The apprehensions of the farmers should be addressed by the government and the corporate players.