Haryana agriculture minister backs farm laws, tears into Congress and Rakesh Tikait

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat regional editor, Sachin Sharma, Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal said that farmers' stir has affected the economy of the state and also slams opposition parties for misleading farmers.

Chandigarh: Defending the three farm laws, Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal stated that the ongoing farmers protest against the farmers' bill has affected the economy of the state. He further alleged that farmers' protest started in Punjab but was forcefully pushed into Haryana.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dalal opined that, "The three farm laws introduced by the Centre are meant only to benefit the farmers and nothing else. Hence, farmers' protests started with the sole purpose of taking political advantage by people like Rakesh Tikait who misled the innocent farmers. Haryana's policies are best in comparison to other states and our government has done extraordinary work for the welfare of the farmers. In fact, no other state can compete with Haryana in terms of better policies and schemes for the ryots,"

“The farmer's agitation started from Punjab and while going to Delhi the agitators settled down in Haryana. As you know that our state is already a agri-state so the sympathy towards the protestors was obvious. To extend help to the farmers our men also sat with them. I must say that the Haryana government has nothing to do with this protest. It is the opposition parties like Congress, Communists and others who sent their own people to take political advantage," Dalal added.

He further pointed out that there was a need to do something for the benefit of the farmers since their financial condition was in distress. Dalal quoted a survey report of the Indian government that had come into public domain and according to its statistics small farmers earn Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month which means one person of the family gets Rs 800 to Rs 900 as their share.

"Are we supposed to leave the farmers in such a bad financial condition or should we do something for them? It's a matter of concern. We have also made several schemes for the benefit of the farmers but unfortunately, those schemes were not approved by the farmers' leaders as they were sponsored by opposition parties," Dalal alleged.

When asked about the reasons behind the government failing to make the farmers understand the advantage of the farm laws, Dalal hit out at the opposition parties and alleged that everything is being done on the instructions of the Congress party.

“Our country has a population of 135 crore people and half of the population is associated with farming. I accept that a few per cent of the people are against us as well. However, in the present situation, I must say that farmer's protest has completely taken political colour. A common farmer has nothing to do with this protest as they also know that agitation is being sponsored by Congress. This protest is not in the favour of farmers but for political gains, “Dalal said.

He blamed Congress for this deadlock since they wrongly projected the farm laws. "The adverse publicity done by the opposition that Mandi system (read large market) will be finished, MSP will get over and farmers will lose their land has affected the farm laws a bit. But in reality, has any Mandi been wound up or MSP scrapped, rather MSP is growing by the day. Has any farmer lost his land? There is no need for any protest because nothing has ended or scrapped,” Dalal said.

Asked about facing problems in the run-up to the assembly elections in various states due to the ongoing farmers' protest, Dalal made it clear that the voters of the country are wise enough to understand that it is all being done by the political parties for their vested interests.

He also blamed the agitators for hampering the economy of the state and also slammed them for not following the constitution and making the life of common people miserable by blocking the roads and highways in the state.

"A very good economy of the Haryana state has been destroyed by the agitators. Our Bahadurgarh's leather factory is on the verge of collapse. Lakhs of people work in Rai and Kundli but they are disturbed due to this protest. Whenever they want, the protestors block the toll plaza and highways. Many small farmers who sell milk and vegetables in Delhi have to cover longer distances as protestors have blocked the roads," Dalal said.

He claimed that farmers protests will end soon as the government is firm to make them understand the benefits of farm laws. Dalal also opined that as the people's support set to diminish, the unions of farmers will be forced to withdraw their protest.