'These Marathas are farmers and they only do farming. They have no other business other than farming. Now, they want reservations because farming is no longer a profitable business.'In this interview, veteran farmers' rights advocate and founding member of the Shetkari Sanghatna, Vijay Jawandhia, with Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff unpacks the historical and structural roots of the agitation.
'The government's priority is not farmers.'
'You've got to understand it is not easy to die by suicide.' 'People commit suicide only when they lose everything and find no other way to live.'
'The people preferred Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar...'
'Seven hundred farmers lost their lives.' 'The protesting farmers were demonised and called names like andolanjiwi, Khalistani, anti-national.'
Farm activists say low MSP is fine, if salaries revised under the Sixth Pay Commission are lowered.
Ultimately, it boils down to whether a loan waiver will help without taking action to improve irrigation facilities and to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.
'Political parties are following the Divide and Rule policy to break the unity of farmers.'
'Why did government not include a provision in the bills which categorically stated that no crop will be sold below the MSP in the open market?'
'He is not looking at the interest of farmers. He only wants to do the politics of elections.' 'This Budget is for the new super India. It is exploiting the villages of Bharat.'
Farmer interest groups predict that unless the government corrects its agricultural pricing and procurement policy, it will face a political blowback.
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