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Spotlight
Farmers’ Fresh Stir: ARE THEIR DEMANDS JUSTFIED?, By Dhurjati Mukherjee, 21 February 2024 |
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Open Forum
New Delhi, 21 February 2024
Farmers’ Fresh Stir
ARE THEIR DEMANDS JUSTFIED?
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
The
conferment of Bharat Ratna to the late M.S. Swaminathan brings to the forefront
the subject of farmers and their conditions of life and living for which the
agricultural scientists had a definite contribution. But just after that, there
has been a fresh agitation by farmers with various demands which include
legally binding minimum support price (MSP) of 23 crops.
It is
well known that MSP is fixed at a level of at least 1.5 times of the all
paid-out costs incurred by farmers.Experts have opined that this should receive
a statutory legal backing and the MSP should be fixed at 50% above the
comprehensive cost of production which includes actual cost incurred to grow
crops and assumed values for other items such as family labour, fertilisers and
chemicals etc.
With no
legal backing, it is a fact that over 80% of the country’s farmers have been
unable to sell their crops at the MSPs fixed by the government. Most analysts
believe that the ruling dispensation has little concern for the farming
community and is not serious in ensuring how their income increases.
However,
it is quite benevolent towards the rich and reports indicate that the ruling
party has allowed tax concessions of around Rs 1 lakh crore every year to
Indian domestic corporate houses but most of them were not increasing their
investments. According to Prof. Atul Sood of the Centre for the Study of
Regional Development, JNU, multinational companies were involved in tax abuse
to the tune of Rs 75,000 crore per annum.
Meanwhile,
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi recently at Chhattisgarh
maintained that the party’s government would accept all the demands of the
farmers, apart from a law guaranteeing MSP. In fact, Kharge unequivocally
stated that the Congress has decided to implement the Swaminathan Commission
recommendations, which are accepted to change the lives of 15 crore farming
families. Recalling the unfulfilled promises made since 2014, the party
president recalled Modi’s had said that “farmers’ incomes will be doubled” and
promised “Rs 15 lakh in every account and two crore jobs every year”. Now other
guarantees are being given, which they contend are also false.
The
Congress recalled that consistently Modi, since his days as Gujarat chief
minister, had advocated MSP and went back on his words after becoming Prime Minister.
It is a known fact that he endeared himself to the farmers in North India only
through his public pledge for 50% profit over input cost and doubling their
income to 2022. Congress spokesperson, Pawan Khera, showed videos of Modi’s
affirmations on MSP and Swaminathan recommendations and also referred to the
Report of the Working Group on Consumer Affairs in March 2011 which, under his
chairmanship, had said that “higher prices would motivate farmers to increase
production”. However, the government took a U-turn and in an affidavit in the
Supreme Court pointed out that giving 50% profit plus input cost was impossible.
According
to government sources, farmers from both Punjab and Haryana benefited immensely
from increased procurement of paddy and wheat at MSP as well as from multiple
farm schemes during the last 10 years under NDA compared to the previous
10-year period when UPA was in office. In the case of Punjab, total procurement
of paddy in 10 years of UPA (2004-05 to 2013-14) was 1263 lakh metric tonnes
(LMT) which went up to 1686 LMT during the NDA government (2014-15 to 2023-24).
Similar has been the case of Haryana.
Meanwhile,
an analysis by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) showed
that farmers in Punjab are already getting MSP that is 50% higher than the
comprehensive cost (C2). Applying C2+50% formula in Punjab results in a cost of
Rs 1503 a quintal while the current MSP is Rs 2275 a quintal, which is 51%
higher than the comprehensive cost (C2) or Swaminathan Committee formula.
However, the comprehensive cost for a farmer growing the same commodity in
Bihar and Bengal works out to Rs 1745 a quintal and Rs 2003 respectively. This
means that they are getting less than 50% over the comprehensive costs under
the C2+50% formula.
Apart
from MSP procurement, experts have suggested the need for a more decentralised
and dynamic framework that might play a role in supporting sustainable,
agro-ecological and economic transitions across different regions. The
government needs to look into this aspect to ensure that small farmers at the
grass-root level get the right price for their produce.
While
Europe’s farmers are protesting the EU’s drive to fight climate change, among
other issues, Indian growers are more focused on state-set assured prices for
their crops. They also want the government to honour a promise to double their
incomes, complaining that costs of cultivation have jumped over the past few
years while incomes have stagnated, making farming a loss-making enterprise.
With a
stagnant rural sector and a huge population dependent on agriculture, there is
an imperative need to make agriculture more profitable. It goes without saying
that the path shown by Swaminathan is evolving an integrated approach can help
solve the challenges facing Indian agriculture. The objectives of government
policy should be to develop an effective system, based on research and modern
technological inputs to facilitate high productivity and ensure crop
diversification for value addition and increasing incomes of farmers for which
training programmes for small farmers are needed.
In this
connection, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research should provide inputs
about crop diversification suited in specific areas and set up experimental
farms in this regard, preferably at the block level. Unless this is done at the
grass-root level, it would be difficult for farm incomes to increase. The
approach should be to target over 80% of farming households having a holding
size of less than a hectare.
Additionally,
there have been suggestions to set up farm management cooperatives that would
manage for a fee, i.e., increase productivity without any rights to the land.
These farms would benefit from economies of scale and their owners would have
the option of seeking non-farm work. But even the allocation for the flagship
scheme MGNREGA cannot guarantee employment for more than 40 days.
The
point that needs to be stressed is that if industry can be given so many
incentives, why not agriculture, which employs a huge section of the
population. Moreover, agriculture contributes 17% to India’s economy. But
corporate houses are powerful enough to extract benefits from the government
while agriculture, though providing food to livelihood to a substantial section,
cannot get the attention it needs. Even food and fertiliser subsidy is being
criticised though nobody talks about the incentives given to industry for their
new projects or expansion plans.
If the
country has to develop in a balanced manner, the ruling dispensation has to
give sufficient attention to the rural and farm sectors as they cannot be
allowed to languish. Some economists have stated that if the farmers’ demands
for MSP are met, there may be food inflation. It can only be said that there is
no justification of the rural poor subsidising the rich and middle- income
sections through cheap food when prices of all other items have escalated.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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Farmers Protest 2.0: WILL GRIPE REAP DIVIDEND?, By Poonam I Kaushish, 20 February 2024 |
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Political Diary
New Delhi, 20 February 2024
Farmers Protest 2.0
WILL GRIPE REAP DIVIDEND?
By Poonam I Kaushish
In this silly political season when Parties are gearing up
for general elections, protests are the current flavor. On one end, Government is
busy grappling with Punjab-Haryana-UP farmers’ demanding Government's guarantee
on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crop production in a repeat of their
2020–2021 protest, for over a week.
Camping in Capital Delhi’s 200 kms radius fortified with concrete
blocks, metal barricades, barbed wire and nail strips, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has
rejected Government’s offer of five-year contract to buy pulses, maize and
cotton at old MSP.
West Bengal too is witness to protests over Sandeshkhali
violence with women alleging sexual assault by TMC strongman Shahjahan Shiekh
and his cahoots. What to speak of AAP’s
remonstration against BJP over inflated water bills in Delhi, down pro-Kannada
gripe on English signboards in Bengaluru or Maharashtra’s Maratha leader’s recent hunger strike
demanding reservation for his community and Tamil Naidu’s complaint against
Karnataka over Cauvery water sharing.
Curse all you want but India thrives on protests aka bandh-hartal, chakka jams. The voice of resistance. The voice that says,
enough is enough, which has perfected the saying “jiski laathi uski bhains”! The cause is immaterial. It is all
about registering ones dissent, the louder the better. Success is measured in
terms of causing maximum dislocation and discomfiture to people bringing work
to a standstill. Wherein a person’s freedom ends at the tip of the others nose!
Over the last 10 years India has witnessed number of
protests cutting across cities, classes and communities, from farmers,
students, Dalits, Muslims to women. From the Anna Hazare protest 2007, Nirbhaya
2012, Shaheen Bagh and Citizenship Amendment Act December 2019 to 2021 farmers’
Bharat Bandh and its encore today.
Raising a moot point: What role do protests/ bandhs play in our functioning
representative democracy? Are strikes actually expression of freedom or are
they means of suppressing fundamental rights in a democracy? Why do protestors
resort to this measure? Is the cause
valid? Is the State being unjust or unreasonable?
Importantly, will sit-ins on roads be the new grammar of Naya Bharat’s protests? Is it the new
political paradigm of dissent? To keep its flock together? Ignominy of becoming
irrelevant? Or political considerations?
Why are they allowed, despite innumerable court rulings banning them?
Undoubtedly, protest is an exciting word, sustenance of
democracy, a fundamental right to bring to Government’s notice what is not
acceptable or odious and a catchphrase for free speech. But sweeping and
uncompromising politics of heads-I- win-tails-you-lose on laws is unjustifiable.
Each protest sows hope that the gripe would reap dividend
as people take to streets to defend their rights and Constitutional integrity
against attacks, even from Government. Sure, some laws are changed, some
repealed, some guilty punished, some systems established and on some Government
refuses to budge.
Scandalously, India lost 36.94 lakh man-days in 210 strikes
and lockouts in public and private sectors in the past four years with Kerala,
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka topping the list, according to Labour and Employment
Ministry data. The public sector lost highest number of man-days 19.91 lakh in
89 strikes 2018-20.
Part of the current paradox is explained by the changed
notion of protest. The original concept was centred on the logic the only way
for a disempowered people group to shake the system was agitate, from gherao for more wages to voluntary hartal against policy decisions. But
slowly perversion set in. A strike could be effective only if stoppage of work
could not be overcome easily by the system. Consequently, strikers use their
power base, including violence, to stall anything that spells change from
routine.
Gone are the days when it took months or days to plan a
protest. In today’s digital-AI world it is easy to organize dissent. Remember
Nirbhaya outpourings started with a SMS or Hazare’s dharna reflection of “people power" who came out in droves
against endemic corruption during UPA II.
Besides, it is easy to identify classic protestors who
believe in the cause, others join as they have nothing better to do, few as it
is ‘fashionable’. Some are interested in “épater
la bourgeoisie" (shock the bourgeoisie) than in coming up with viable
solution for the cause they are protesting against.
Many simply shrug off protests as “sab chalta hai, this is Mera
Bharat Mahan at its rudest and crassest best.” Some assert “ki pharak painda hai.” Indeed, India has travelled a long way from
Lokmanya Tilak’s “Swaraj is my birthright” to “protest is my birthright.”
Today, some section of society plans strike as a matter of routine to stall
anything that spells change from routine.
As India marches ahead, are protests the right recourse?
Certainly, Constitution guarantees right to protest, but it does not guarantee
right to infringe upon others rights. Unfortunately, our strikers fail to
realize that strikes negate the basic concept of democracy. These are just a
camouflage for non-performance, self-glorification, to flex their might and
muscle, gain sympathy or wriggle out of working hard.
Remember, democracy is neither mobocracy nor license to
create bedlam. It’s a fine balance between rights and duties, liberties and
responsibilities. One’s freedom pre-supposes another’s responsibilities and
liberty. Importantly, protests cannot set things right but only create
psychological pressure on Government.
Yet unending dissent just to muscle the Government to bend
only threatens to undermine the legitimacy of Indian democracy. Unless
protesters have a viable alternative to offer, continuing a strike could lead
to chilling chaos and mob tyranny. Alongside, human casualties and damage to
economy and businesses.
Paralysing the State, black-mailing corporates, industries
to get attention and policy reversals, xasperates and inconveniences the public, cuts
off money flow, shoos off investors and endangers their own jobs.
Time has come to take a leaf from US law, wherein there is
no Constitutional right to make a speech on a highway or near about, so as to
cause a crowd to gather and obstruct the highway. The right to assembly is to
be so exercised as not to conflict with other lawful rights, interests and
comfort of individual or public and public order.
In UK, Public Order Act, 1935 makes it an offence for any
person in uniform to attend any public meeting, signifying his association with
any political organization. The
Prevention of Crime Act, 1953, makes it an offence to carry any weapon in any
‘public place’ without lawful authority.
The Seditious Meetings Act, 1817 prohibits meetings of more than 50
persons within a mile of Westminster Hall during Parliament sittings.
We need to remember India is a civilized democracy, whereby,
a citizen’s right is paramount. The question we all need to ask is: Can we
afford protests at all, leave aside for what purpose it may have been called?
At some point we have to stand up and bellow, “Bandh karo ye bandh!
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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Delhi Vote Trust AAP SURPRISES BJP!: By Insaf, 19 February |
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Round The States
New
Delhi, 19 February 2024
Delhi Vote Trust
AAP SURPRISES BJP!
By Insaf
Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal undeniably has a knack for springing surprises. This
time he would have stumped rival BJP with his decision to seek vote of
confidence when it wasn’t called for. On Saturday last, his AAP won the trust
vote in the 70-member Assembly allowing him to assert his party has emerged as
the biggest challenger to BJP, which “wants to crush it by any means”. He got the
support of 54 MLAs present of his 64 flock (some in jail, unwell, attending
wedding etc) and claimed no legislator had defected, though BJP was
consistently ‘trying to poach’. The BJP said there was no need for the
confidence motion as AAP government enjoys a majority, ‘but Kejriwal has lost people’s
confidence’, as he was involved in corruption cases, including the liquor scam
and wasn’t cooperating with the police probe on its complaint over MLA poaching
allegations, etc. In his usual style, Kejriwal hit back saying BJP wants to
dissolve the Assembly after Lok Sabha polls and the city will be governed as a
UT, adding if the BJP faces any threat, it’s from AAP. Clearly, he is making
solid grounds for his campaign to retain Delhi, in same way as he is skirting
the ED. He will not be appearing in person for its next summons as he’s busy
with the Budget session. All eyes would be on what’s next on his sleeve.
* * * *
Determined
Farmers
Stopped
from marching to national capital Delhi, protesting farmers have decided to
stay put at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of Punjab-Haryana border. In
addition, they are holding tractor marches at several places and dharnas at BJP
leaders’ residences as 3 rounds of talks with Modi government have made no
headway. Interestingly, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has become
their mediator as he too is fighting with Centre. Other than the ‘Bharat bandh”
on Friday, plans to intensify the stir have been spelt out: BharatiyaKisan
Union will stage dharnas in UP and Uttarakhand on Wednesday, and the Samyukta
Kisan Morcha is to launch a tractor march to Delhi end-February; in Tamil Nadu,
farmers from various farm associations tried to stage a ‘rail roko’ protest at
Thanjavur station. The big question is whether the government will yield and to
what extent. The list of demands is long -- a legal guarantee for MSP,
implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, farm debt waiver,
pension for farmers and farm labourers, withdrawal of police cases during
2020-21 agitation, etc. Remember, Prime Minister Modi had the ‘Kisan’ on his
list of the four pillars of Viksit Bharat! Convincing?
* * * *
Regional Parties Affected?
Opposition parties and civil society groups are upbeat with Supreme
Court’s Thursday order annulling the electoral bonds scheme for political
funding, giving the right to the people to know who gives money to parties.
While it’s being seen as a big blow to the BJP, which got 55% (Rs 6,565 crore)
of the lion’s share of bonds accounting for Rs 12,000 crore funds last fiscal, regional
parties too shall be affected and moresothose which are in power. As per data of
the ADR, while Congress came second to BJP, the BRS then in power in
Telangana got Rs 529 crore, the TMC in West Bengal received Rs 325 crore, DMK in
Tamil Nadu Rs 185 crore, BJD in Odisha Rs 152 crore and opposition TDP in
Andhra Pradesh Rs 34 crore. Interestingly, the SPin Uttar Pradesh saw nil
contribution to its electoral bonds and SAD in Punjab too drew a big zero. Importantly,
nearly half of funds in these bonds have come from corporates and it needs to
be seen how these parties will scramble for funds to fight the big electoral
battle of 2024. Jubilation over the top court’s verdict may be subdued at the
end of the day.
* * * *
WB Village Trouble
Another episode of Governor-Chief Minister tussle surfaces in
West Bengal. This time over the political storm brewing in Sandeshkhali village
in North 24 Parganas district. On Saturday, Governor Ananda Bose said Raj
Bhavan doors are open for victimised women who ‘can come and stay as shelter,
food and security will be provided.’ This on the heels of National Commission
for Scheduled Castes recommending President’s rule in the state after
submitting its report to President Murmu. Past month has seen protests in the
village after scores of women accused local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh,
absconding since January 5 after ED raids of he and his men forcibly grabbing their
land for prawn cultivation, torturing and sexually harassing them for several
years!Besides, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
has sought a probe into the assault on a woman and ‘throwing away of her infant
daughter’ by miscreants. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reacted saying so far 17 persons have
been arrested plus an all-woman police team isin the village to listen to the women’s
grievances. Will it douse the fire?
* * * *
Bihar Vendetta Review
Bihar former Deputy Chief Minister TejashwiYadavand his RJD
must be on tenterhooks. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a review of all
decisions taken by departments of Health, Road Construction, Urban Development
and Housing and Rural Works, headed by him in the previous government. A review
will also be done of Public Health Engineering Department and Mines and Geology
Department, under two former RJD ministers, Lalit Yadav and Ramanand Yadav.
Nitish, says the JD(U), has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against corruption and he
had said: “I gave them (RJD leaders) respect, but
they indulged in corrupt practices. Will launch a probe against alleged
corruption by RJD leaders in the previous government”. The RJD reacted saying
‘the party isn’t scared of any review, let them (NDA government) do whatever
they want to’, adding ‘the CM and BJP are scared of our leader (Tejashwi); previous
Mahagathbandhan government undertook lot of welfare initiatives such as
employment and social security, benefitting lakhs of people.’Putting on a
strong face may not work though!
* * * *
Jharkhand
Cabinet Discontent
All is not well in the newly-formed Champai Soren-led
government in Jharkhand. Trouble is brewing as the Chief Minister inducted 8
new ministers, including former Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s brother Basant Soren,
on Friday last.While a JMM MLA is peeved over being ‘dropped’ from the list last
minute under pressure from Congress and threatening to contest as an
independent candidate in Assembly polls, dissidence is brewing in Congress. A
letter signed by 12 MLAs has been handed over to state party chief and 8 MLAs
have joined in him in Delhi to resolve the issue. Their grudge is ‘repetition of 4 ministers from the party’s quota’ in
the 12-member Cabinet, whereas they ‘wanted an opportunity this time.’ Champai
will need to act to keep the JMM-led alliance of 47 MLAs (JMM-29, Congress-17
and RJD one) intact and not allow the BJP to take advantage of the heartburn.
Sooner the better. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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Farmers Protest: GLOBAL, GOVT MUST LISTEN, By Shivaji Sarkar, 16 February 2024 |
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Economic
Highlights
New
Delhi, 16 February 2024
Farmers Protest
GLOBAL, GOVT MUST LISTEN
By Shivaji Sarkar
Farmers
are protesting in an election year all over the world. The day the Indian
farmers were made to face severe assault on February 13 and the roads to Delhi
were blocked with concrete walls, barbed wire and spikes; farmers in Brussels clogged
streets, with 1300 tractors, leading to Paris pressing for fairer deals almost
akin to their Indian brethren. They did not face any hostility anywhere, though
agriculture according to Bloomsberg, has become a key battleground in a wider
culture war over money, food and climate change.
The list
of “grievances long - soaring costs, increasing bureaucracy, new European Union
regulations in its Green Deal and imports diluting their markets”. A placard
says: “He who sows misery reaps anger”. What an irony! These farmers are
agitating as the European Union goes to the polls. The government listens to
them without accusing them of politicking. A month back German farmers blocked
highways.
Indian
farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh travelling to Delhi on tractors
with supplies for a long sit-in, have demands that are similar to the French
farmers. Their placard says, India must quit WTO along with their demands for a
guaranteed minimum support price (MSP), implying that the market must ensure fair
price, food and sustainable farming. While Indian farmers are labelled with
being “supported by Pakistan, Khalistanis and other anti-country forces”, the farmers
in Paris are patiently heard by their government, and they put off protests.
The contrast
is sharp. The government of Haryana state blocked their roads at Punjab border,
fired tear gas shells, lobbed shells from drones. In talks with Union ministers,
Arjun Munda and Piyush Goyal, they have received no assurance on key issues
though the government says agreement reached on ten other issues. They are
alleged to be provoked by the opposition parties, AAP in Punjab and now with
Rahul Gandhi’s announcement of a guaranteed MSP, if his party voted to power,
also the Congress. But for the alleged intervention of Punjab government
officials, situation at Ambala’ Shambhu border could have been worse.
The
farmers have a long history of indignation, particularly in France and the
problems are not confined to Europe. Among the 70 countries going to polls, is
the EU, India and the US. In France, the farmers complain that politicians only
want to get elected, so they are latching onto the farmers movement. Most
politicians and parties keep off them. Even Congress party’s Black Paper on
economy only cursorily mentions them.
The
Manmohanomics of the Congress party is responsible for the beginning of
corporatisation of farming, an aim of the International Monetary Fund and World
Bank. Their successor government has been following the Manmohanomics and only
aggravated the issues of marketing. In 2006, during the UPA government, Bihar
abolished the mandis or APMs. It closed procurement. Punjab farmers rush to
Bihar, buy food grains, ship it to Punjab, sell at MSP and earn profits. Bihar farmers
suffer.
During
the past few years, many long marches have been held by farmers even during UPA
government, as also long dharnas during the NDA, as along Delhi borders with Haryana
and UP in 2022. The similarities are stark. In Europe, farmers have been
holding protests in Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Romania. Polish farmers have
vociferously opposed food grain arriving from neighbouring Ukraine and forced
the government to negotiate. In Delhi, government blocked roads to check
farmers entry to the national Capital, in Germany farmers blocked highways in
January for a week against cuts in subsidies on diesel.
Indian
farmers, so far, did not even protest petrol and diesel prices that are almost
double that of international crude prices. They even did not protest against
auto-lobby-NGT sponsored illegal seizures of their ten-year-new cars and
tractors, for which they paid EMIs for seven years. They suffered takeover of
their land for building of roads for irrationally high tolls. Climate issues
for grain, horticulture or fish farmers are wrecking them.
Climate
change is a big issue for European and US farmers. Though the governments there
may not be that intent on the issues, they are not hostile. A US retired
diplomat Hegadorn is quoted as saying, “You can live without an electric car,
you can live without a mobile phone, but you’re not going to live without
farmers and the food they produce”. Sensible approach in a country that has
only a miniscule percentage left as farmers. Corporatisation of agriculture has
neither helped the farming community in Europe nor in the US.
In
contrast, India has over 54 per cent left in agriculture or over 75 crore
people. Since the last farmers agitation two years back, withdrawal of three
supposedly anti-farmer laws, the government has continued with the
Manmohanomics and heaped miseries on the farmers. It should not be obsessed
with the factor that they are agitating during election time. World over it is
so.
The
farmers are being neglected and overlooked in policy framing from the richest
US and European countries to the poorest India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In all
these countries while corporate profits swell, farmers wages remain stagnant
for decades. Their input costs on seed, fertilisers, machines or pesticides multiplied
everywhere.
Economic
Survey of 2016 says farmers income was Rs 1700 a month. This as per National
Statistical Office was Rs 10218 a year or about Rs 2000 a month as per Rajya
Sabha statement in December 2022. Market-linking of agriculture or
corporatisation in the prevailing circumstances has failed in the affluent
countries. In the US, farmers complain they are being priced out by big
companies.
Those
advising in India that it could be a success are apparently misleading policy
planners. More sensitivity is required. Farmers the world over are agitating
not because there are elections, they want patient hearing for solving the
global crisis.
Delhi
belongs to all countrymen. The government should invite the farmers with open
arms and not with spiked roads. If attended, it is easy to solve as promising
guaranteed MSP would not burden the exchequer with more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore (trillion)
of additional expenses, which the government agencies recover as they sell the
food grains. Listening in any regime is an asset.---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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Modi In UAE: REACHING NEW HEIGHTS, By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri, 17 February 2024 |
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Round The World
New Delhi, 17 February 2024
Modi In UAE
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri
(Secretary General, Assn
for Democratic Socialism)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the Gulf country UAE on 13-14
February. This was his eighth visit which shows the growing partnership between
the two countries. He was received by the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan with a special ceremonial welcome at the airport. On his arrival,
Modi said he was meeting his ‘brother’ (President) and felt like coming home. Modi
visited UAE for the first time in 2015. His friendship with the UAE leadership
has been growing ever since. He was conferred the ‘prestigious’ order of Zayed
in 2019, the highest civilian award of UAE.
Notably, Prime Minister Modi was meeting the UAE President for the
third time in eight months. They had a bilateral meeting in July 2023 and again
in COP 28 in November, the same year, where Modi was given the rare honour of
being the only visiting dignitary to address the ceremonial opening of the
session. Likewise, Sheikh Mohamed was in Delhi in September for the G-20 summit
as one of India’s special invitees. He returned in January 2024 for the Gujarat
Global Summit as the Chief Guest.
The primary purpose of Modi’s visit to UAE was to inaugurate the BAPS
– Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha - temple in Abu Dhabi. Built
on the land of 27 acres with 700 crores, a 108-ft tall structure, it is the
largest temple in the Middle-East. It is situated in Abu Mreikhah, near Al
Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway. Inaugurating it, PM Modi
said, “A golden chapter in human history has been written in UAE today. This
temple will become a symbol of communal harmony and global unity for the entire
world,” a shared heritage of humanity.
Modi profusely thanked the President of UAE for making the grand
temple a reality. He said, “President Sheikh Mohammad has won the hearts of not
only Indians living in the Gulf nation but also of 140 crore Indians back home.
He added that UAE was so far known for Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Mosque,
future museum and other high-tech buildings. Now it has added another
magnificent cultural monument to its identity.
Modi was given a massive welcome called ‘Hello Modi’ (Ahlan Modi in
Arabic) in Zayed City Sports Stadium. Modi said he was overwhelmed by the
affection shown by the Indian community. UAE has the largest Indian Diaspora of
3.5 million people. In his speech, Modi exuded tremendous confidence as he
proclaimed India will be the third largest economy of the world in his third
term as the Prime Minister. Modi added that the Vice President of UAE has
offered to give a land in Dubai for the construction of a hospital for Indian
workers.
Modi was the guest of honour at the 11th World Government Summit in
Dubai. This summit is Dubai’s version of Davos, an annual conference of government
leaders, heads of international organisations, captains of industries and
thought leaders from around the world. Modi’s speech focussed on peoples’
participation, social inclusion and sustainability. He touched upon themes like
empowering people and delivering change where he gave the illustration of
schemes like Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan, Jan Bhagidari, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.
On the second theme, he talked about financial inclusion for all where he
referred to banking facility for 500 million people in India which makes the
country the world leader in fintech and digital payments.
The third theme was about India’s start-up surge. It has become the
third largest start-up eco system in the world. With all such projects, 200
million people have been lifted out of poverty and 130 crore people have
digital identity. Fourth, Modi talked about India leading on the climate change
actions. Projects like mission life and green credit system have facilitated
India’s investment in solar, wind, biofuel, green hydrogen and so on for a
sustainable future.
Finally, Prime Minister summed up his speech by emphasising on
pro-people approach in governance that also protects the environment. He said,
“The world must embrace a smart, technology driven, transparent and
environmentally sustainable governance.”
On the economic front, eight agreements were signed with UAE on
investment, electricity, trade, digital payments, connectivity etc. Remember, a
Free Trade Agreement was signed in 2022, which among other things, eliminated
the duties of 99 per cent of the UAE’s imports from India. These pacts will
take the bilateralism into greater heights. A bilateral Investment Treaty was
signed which will have long-lasting impact as a follow-up of FTA. A MoU on
electrical inter-connection and trade was signed which would open up new areas
of collaboration in energy including energy security.
Another agreement on linking the instant payment platforms, India’s
Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and UAE’s AANI was signed. Along with it,
India’s domestic debit and credit cards, RuPay was linked with UAE’s Jaywan
which would enhance RuPay’s acceptance in the UAE. A MoU was signed on digital
infrastructure projects – sharing of technical knowledge and expertise and
investment on digital infrastructure. Two more agreements fostering cooperation
between national achieves of two countries were signed. They are meant to help
restoration and preservation of archival material in the fields of heritage and
museums.
Prime Minister discussed with the President the upcoming major
project, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) which is a
counterweight to ambitious BRI – Belt and Road Initiative of China. The IMEC
will build on earlier understanding of the participating countries and foster
cooperation for regional connectivity. Prime Minister invited UAE to actively
participate in this project.
Modi inaugurated the Bharat Mart, a joint venture of Dubai-based DP
World and India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Bharat Mart is meant to
boost export of India’s micro, small and medium enterprises with retail,
warehousing and logistic facilities. It is located in Dubai’s Jebel Free Zone
area built on a plot of 1.3 million sq ft containing 8000 showrooms and 18
warehouses.
Prime Minister Modi said that India and UAE are partners in
progress which could serve as a model for the rest of the world. Partnership is
reaching new heights scripting a new history in the third decade of the 21st
century. Metaphorically, the scripting of a better future for both countries
was written on Duniya ki Kitab (Book of the World) by Waqt ki Kalam (The
Pen of Time). The partnership consists of talent, innovation and culture. It seems the partnership between India and UAE
is experiencing a ratchet growth which is good for both the countries and the
region. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News
& Feature Alliance)
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