Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) organised ‘Kisan Garjana Rally’ on December 19, 2022, at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi for various demands from the Union Government. In this background, Organiser Assistant Editor Ravi Mishra spoke to BKS General Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra, who said that the Government should consider giving reasonable prices to farmers on the basis of their total cost for the crops. He said that BKS appreciate the Government’s decision, which brought the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in 2018-19. However, the input cost of cultivation has also increased in the last 3-4 years. Therefore, there should be an increase in PM Kisan Samman Nidhi too. Excerpts:
Why is Bharatiya Kisan Sangh protesting, and what are the demands?
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh is India’s largest farmers’ organisation. `On December 19, 2022, we protested in Delhi. Our protest was for four demands. First, farmers are not getting their prices at par with the cost of farming, which has increased over the years. These were the farmers, who fed the country during the period of Covid crisis without earning any profit. Therefore, the government should consider extending reasonable prices to farmers on the basis of their input costs.
Secondly, we appreciated the government’s decision, that brought the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in 2018-19. However, the input cost of cultivation has also increased in the last 3-4 years. Therefore, we demand an increase in Kisan Samman Nidhi too. Then only it would be beneficial to the farmers.
Thirdly, we want the government to exempt Farmers from the 18 per cent GST applied on fertilisers, tractors and small technologies used in farming. It is because farmers don’t get input credit. Fourth, the environment ministry recently gave permission for Genetically Modified (GM) Mustard, which is very dangerous. We have deliberated on this issue with the government. Till the government doesn’t have any scientific data, permission should not be given. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) also accepted that they didn’t have any scientific data regarding GM mustard; they are still collecting it from other countries. The fact is that since we don’t have conclusive proof, why should permission be given? This is really dangerous. GM crops cause cancer and are also against natural farming and biodiversity. Therefore, permission given for GM crops should be withdrawn.
You appreciated PM Kisan Samman Yojana. It means the Narendra Modi government is serious about farmers’ issues.
Of course, this government understands the problems of farmers and also talks to them. However, the government will have to think about the proper implementation of its decisions on the ground. Yes, we appreciate PM Kisan Yojana. But, there must be an increase in instalments amount.
Are you also demanding an increase in MSP?
No, since the beginning, we have been against the concept of MSP. If we are buying things based on MRP, why sell based on MSP? We need a cost-based profitable price. MSP is based on support, which is meaningless; we don’t endorse this. MSP was brought when we needed grain; the government asked farmers to cultivate basic and necessary crops, which it supported through MSP. Today, the situation is different as there is no food grain crisis in the country. Therefore, the concept of MSP doesn’t apply today. Hence we are demanding a profitable price.
Various farmers’ unions have also been protesting on many issues for the last three years. How is the BKS’ protest different from theirs?
The protests by other organisations, which you are talking about, were protests by a few farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western UP. It was a political protest for political gains. Even violence was also resorted to during those protests. They were protesting against the three farm laws. We were not in favour of repealing the farm laws as they were beneficial for farmers. Unfortunately, the government had to repeal those due to their pressure.
We had done a detailed survey in twenty thousand villages and asked the government to implement it after three amendments. First, all the traders, small or big, should be registered in a government portal so that a farmer could be sure about their authenticity. Second, all the traders should come with bank guarantees—with an assurance that if they flew without payment, then banks can pay the farmers. And the third is dispute settlement. Alongside the provisions of sub collector and collector, separate farmers’ court should be established at the block & district levels. These were demands by BKS, that the government had also agreed to. However, the government surrendered before violent protesters and took back these constructive laws.
Shrinking of land due to the partition of the family is one of the big reasons behind the farm crisis. What do you have to say about this?
No, this is not true. The problem is about input costs and the marketing system of exploiting and putting illegal taxes during purchases and procurements. Farmers are sellers, and no sellers give taxes. So why should farmers pay?
