Reasons for Farmers Protests in Delhi

Thousands of farmers from across North India are protesting against the “three new agriculture related legislations”, which were passed by the Indian Parliament in September 2020 but farmers protest by and large have been led by Farmers Unions from Punjab and Haryana. Major reasons for Farmers Protests in Delhi:

• • Government says the new laws will “Empower Farmers” but Farmers Union are looking new legislations as “Anti Farmers Laws” so they are peacefully protesting against government to repeal these three laws.
• • Thus key demand is withdrawal of three laws which deregulate the sale of their crops.
• • The farmer unions believe that the laws will weaken of the government-controlled marketing yards or Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis under the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act. Farmers fear that with disbanding of mandi system, they will not get and assured price for their crop and the arthiyas- commission agents.
• • Protesting farmers believe that dismantling the APMC mandis will encourage abolishing the purchase of their crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Farmers are fearing that the government will do away with MSP and over time big corporate houses will dictate terms and farmer will end up getting less for their crops therefore they are demanding the MSP to be legally guaranteed by the government.
• • The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are primarily protesting because the government procurement infrastructure in these areas is very good and most of these farmers get benefits from MSP.
• • Farmers are also protesting for withdrawal of the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020, fearing that it may lead to an end to subsidized electricity to farmers.
• • Rules against stubble burning should not also apply to them.