In continuation of my yesterday’s blog, our politicians are having such a double mind that they forget what they did when they were in power. Take the case of NCP’s founder Sharad Pawar.
In the history of independent India, he was the longest serving Agricultural Minister from May 2004 to May 2014, that means full 2 terms of UPA govt. He was the most unsuccessful Agricultural Minister. Maximum numbers of farmers committed suicide during his tenure, the official figure is 1.71 lakhs. When he took over the ministry the agricultural produce was growing at the rate of 4%, which was brought up by Vajpayee Govt from 2.6% to 4% from 1990 t0 2004. In the year 2014 when UPA govt was defeated, at that time growth was at minus 0.2%. NDA govt has taken the growth rate to 3.6% over last 6 years. During his tenure he must have realised that growth rate is coming down and farmers have started committing suicide, but he did not had any will to do some reforms in agricultural sector. In 2010 he wrote to CMs of different states that for agricultural growth, the private participation will have to be encouraged in this sector. “In this context, the need to amend the present state APMC Act on the lines of model State Agricultural Produce Marketing( development and agricultural) Act 2003 to encourage the private sector in providing alternate competitive marketing channels in the overall interest of farmers/producer and consumer can not be over emphasized.”
Sharad Pawar repeated the same in National Development Council in Dec 2012, and added that “ The Public- Private partnership (PPP) model in agricultural should be explored on wider and larger scale. He further added that APMC acts need to be amended to encourage private markets and contract farming.
Now what did Modi govt do? The same thing which you suggested in 2010/12.
Now on 6th Dec 2020 what he is saying “ The central govt should take this protest very seriously, otherwise this protest will spread to full country. Some intellectual people should lead the way and tell the central govt to end this matter, as per farmers demand.” Now he is supporting all types of bandhs in farmers protest.
Sharad Pawar did not have any courage, to amend the APMC act. Now Modi govt has done it and he is opposing the same. What a double standards. Agreed many politician are thick skinned, but this is height of Shame.
Now let us come to Congress Party, why to go far back in history, even in their manifesto of General Elections of 2019, in which there is separate section of- Agricultural, Farmers and Farm Labours. In the manifesto it has been said that “ Congress will promote Farmer Producer Companies/Organisation to enable farmers to access inputs, technology and markets” Further it is there in manifesto that “ Congress will repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) act and make trade in agricultural produce- including exports and interstate trade-free from all restrictions”
Now what did Modi govt do ? Their New farm laws are on the similar lines.
On the contrary Congress and NCP should be happy that Modi govt has followed their suggestions, but both these parties along with leftist parties are encouraging and supporting this protest. All these parties are trying to take this protest at international level, and abetting unrest in the country.
This episode has proved that some political parties, when they are in power they talk in different language, and when in opposition their language changes. Congress is expert in this field, there are so many instances when they are in power and they come out with some suggestions for people’s benefit but some vested interest in the party then realise that this suggestion when implemented will be harmful considering their personal interests, and these members force the party high command to back out from the same. These farms bills are classical case in this regard. Sharad Pawar is indirectly controlling all the sugar co operatives in Maharashtra and many Punjab Congress and Akali leaders are directly/indirectly involved in farm trade, and they do not want to lose their clouts on the farmers which in their eyes are their vote bank.
God Save The Country From These Politicians.
Waiting for your comments/feed backs/views.
Anil Malik, Mumbai, India
16th December 2020.
Vasanth Chandra
Double speak is fine art of politics . Oppose everything Govt does is the policy of Opposition .
This is what BJP too did when they were in the opposition ?