The violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, in which four farmers were killed, is “absolutely condemnable,” according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who also stressed that similar issues are occurring in other parts of India and should be raised “when they happen, not when it suits others” because the BJP governs Uttar Pradesh. Ms Sitharaman was replying to a question regarding the murders of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri and the arrest of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra during a talk at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday.
She was questioned about why the prime minister and top ministers had said nothing about it and why there is a “defensive reaction” when such issues are raised. “Absolutely not,” says the speaker. It’s great of you to have brought up that one event, which we all agree is completely unacceptable. I fear that similar incidents are occurring elsewhere.” Such difficulties abound in India, and they affect people in all regions of the nation.
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She said that the “due course of justice” will be established through a thorough investigation procedure. I will speak for India and impoverished people’s justice. I am not going to be ridiculed. And if it’s ridiculing, I’ll defend myself by standing up and saying, ‘Sorry, let’s speak about facts.’ “That is my response to you,” she replied. Following accusations that he was in one of the cars that mowed down four farmers opposing UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit on October 3, Ashish Mishra was identified in an FIR.
Ms Sitharaman responded to a query about the farmers’ demonstrations by saying that several parliamentary committees had debated the three acts that the government enacted for over a decade. When the BJP took power in 2014, all three statutes were debated in various ways by state governments and the federal government.
Since November 26 last year, tens of thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other states have been demonstrating on Delhi’s different borders, demanding the repeal of three agricultural regulations imposed in September. These farmers have labelled these regulations as “anti-farmer,” claiming that they would pave the way for removing the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of huge companies. “Punjab, Haryana, and certain areas of western Uttar Pradesh,” Ms Sitharaman said, adding that the protestors are from one state and parts of other states. She stated that the administration has shown willingness to negotiate with the protestors and has engaged with them.
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According to her, the administration has asked explicitly what one part of any of the three laws that have been enacted that the protestors disagree to. She explained, adding that the MSP is published ahead of time, giving farmers plenty of time to decide whether or not to produce a crop or to grow something else. Whenever farmers opt to produce any of these crops, a minimum support price is established, and procurements are made; money is paid as a lump sum into their accounts via direct benefit transfer utilising technology. She added that farmers have received the whole amount, pointing out that there are taped discussions “which you can see of farmers even from Punjab, even from Haryana.”
