#BJP Jharkhand protests

[townpostin]

BJP Slams FIR Against Rally Participants in Jharkhand

Shiv Shankar Singh accuses Hemant government of suppressing youth voices BJP leader Shiv Shankar Singh strongly condemns FIR filed against party members and supporters after Yuva Aakrosh Rally. JAMSHEDPUR – BJP leader Shiv Shankar Singh has vehemently criticized the Jharkhand government for filing an FIR against 42 named individuals and 12,000 unknown participants of the recent Yuva Akrosh…

[sharpbharat]

Jharkhand jmm protest against bjp : भाजपा के गोगो दीदी योजना के खिलाफ चुनाव आयोग के पास पहुंचा झामुमो, कहा - गोगो योजना सही तो झामुमो सम्मान योजना चलाने की इजाजत दे, हर माह महिलाओं को देंगे 2500 रुपये, देखिये - video

रांची : झारखंड में होने वाले चुनाव को लेकर भाजपा ने गोगो दीदी योजना ला दिया है. भाजपा ने कहा है कि सरकार बनी तो हर महिला को 2100 रुपये प्रतिमाह और प्रति वर्ष 25 हजार रुपये दिया जायेगा. इ��के लिए फार्म भराया जा रहा है. इसके खिलाफ सत्ताधारी पार्टी झारखंड मुक्ति मोर्चा (झामुमो) ने आपत्ति जताया है. इन लोगों ने झारखंड के मुख्य निर्वाचन पदाधिकारी के रवि कुमार से मुलाकात कर शिकायत दर्ज करायी है और कहा है…

[gazetteweekly]

Today in Politics: PM Modi's Post-Budget Address, Kejriwal Rally, and Assembly Drama

PM Modi to Address CII Post-Budget Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to speak at the “Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024–25 Conference” organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi on Tuesday. The conference will showcase the government’s vision for growth and the role of industry in achieving it. Over 1,000 participants from various sectors, including industry, government, and diplomacy, will attend in person, with many more joining virtually from across the country and abroad.

Opposition Rally for Kejriwal’s Release

Meanwhile, at Jantar Mantar, the opposition-led INDIA bloc is holding a rally organized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to protest the continued detention of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Despite his declining health, Kejriwal remains incarcerated in the now-defunct liquor policy case. The rally, featuring Congress, SP, RJD, TMC, DMK, CPI, CPI(M-L), NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), aims to demonstrate opposition unity. AAP has accused the BJP of attempting to harm Kejriwal, citing medical reports of his deteriorating health.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who is attending the rally, will miss the farewell event for outgoing Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Purohit, who has had a contentious relationship with Mann, will be replaced by Gulab Chand Kataria.

Rajasthan Assembly Turmoil

In BJP-ruled Rajasthan, opposition parties, led by Congress and the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), have caused disruptions in the Assembly over allegations of crimes against Dalits. The Assembly faced three adjournments on Monday, with Speaker Vasudev Devnani promising to address these concerns during Zero Hour. Key issues raised included the murder of a Dalit teacher and various alleged atrocities against Dalits.

Jharkhand Assembly Chaos

In Jharkhand, where a JMM-led alliance is in power, the Assembly experienced chaos as BJP MLAs raised concerns over alleged Bangladeshi infiltration and atrocities against tribals. The disruptions led to multiple adjournments, with further confrontations expected as the Assembly reconvenes. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s strategy to focus on these issues ahead of upcoming state polls continues to drive the BJP’s stance.

Assam’s Welfare Review

In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is reviewing the progress of ongoing welfare projects with ministers, senior officials, and district commissioners in Guwahati. Sarma has emphasized the need for DCs to focus on their districts’ strengths and expedite construction of government buildings and development projects. The newly created sub-districts will begin operations on October 2, with foundation stones for their permanent offices to be laid.

Himachal Congress Leadership Changes

In Himachal Pradesh, Congress MP Pratibha Singh is in Delhi to meet with party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Singh, who also serves as the state Congress president, will present a detailed report on recent Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections and discuss potential changes to the party’s state organizational structure.

[news24fr]

Réagissant aux protestations des jaïns contre la désignation de leur sanctuaire principal Sammed Shikharji dans le Jharkhand comme destination de tourisme religieux et écologique, le gouvernement central a interrompu toutes ces activités dans les plus grandes collines de Parasnath, où il se trouve. Il a également demandé à l'État d'agir strictement contre les pratiques interdites telles que la consommation d'alcool ou la "salissure de sites d'importance religieuse et culturelle" ou les dommages à l'écologie. Les dirigeants de la communauté jaïn craignent que la désignation de l'endroit comme destination touristique ne « nuise à son caractère sacré ». Plus tôt dans la journée, le ministre en chef Hemant Soren a écrit au Centre pour demander des "décisions appropriées" sur sa notification de 2019. Il a écrit que la politique touristique de l'État pour 2021 - à laquelle la communauté s'oppose également - vise à former un conseil de gestion capable de mieux gérer le sanctuaire. Dirigé par le secrétaire au tourisme de l'État, il comptera six membres non gouvernementaux choisis dans la communauté jaïn, indique la lettre. Il a ajouté que l'opposition de la communauté était de déclarer Parasnath Hills, où se trouve le sanctuaire, comme une zone "d'écotourisme". La lettre au ministère de l'Environnement de l'Union est intervenue quelques jours après que le ministère a écrit à l'État pour lui demander de "recommander les modifications nécessaires pour de nouvelles mesures nécessaires". À peine deux heures plus tard, le ministre de l'Environnement de l'Union, Bhupendra Yadav, a publié une note indiquant que les activités touristiques devaient être "suspendues" immédiatement. Le ministre du Tourisme de l'Union, G Kishan Reddy, a également déclaré lors d'une conférence de presse que "rien ne sera fait pour nuire aux sentiments religieux de quiconque". Il a souligné que l'écotourisme signifiait qu'il n'y avait pas de structures permanentes, de restaurants et autres, dans cette zone. La note du Centre indique également qu'au moins deux membres du conseil d'administration doivent appartenir à la communauté jaïn. Sammed Shikhar tombe dans la zone écosensible du sanctuaire de faune de Parasnath et du sanctuaire de faune de Topchanchi. Il existe une liste d'activités interdites qui ne peuvent avoir lieu dans et autour de la zone écosensible désignée. Les restrictions seront respectées dans la lettre et dans l'esprit. pic.twitter.com/aTX5aKkvbH — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) 5 janvier 2023 Le gouvernement du Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress a fait valoir que les notifications initiales avaient été faites par les gouvernements du BJP et que le Centre devait agir. Raghubar Das du BJP, qui était ministre en chef en 2019, a également déclaré que les mauvaises décisions peuvent être corrigées maintenant. Plus d'informations @byadavbjp जी को पत्र लिख जैन अनुयायियों द्वारा प्राप्त आवेदनों के अनुसार पारसनाथ स्थित सम्मेद शिखर की सुचिता बनाये रखने हेतु पर्यावरण, वन एवं जलवायु परिवर्तन मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार की संबंधित अधिसूचना के संदर्भ में समुचित निर्णय लेने हेतु आग्रह किया। pic.twitter.com/xQenqjahjn — Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) 5 janvier 2023 Les dirigeants de la communauté jaïn craignent que la désignation de l'endroit comme destination touristique ne « nuise à son caractère sacré ». Plus tôt dans la journée, le secrétaire au tourisme de Jharkhand, Manoj Kumar, a déclaré à PTI que la décision de désigner 200 sites, dont Sammed Shikharji, comme destination touristique était pour une "commodité administrative". Ces lieux sont depuis longtemps identifiés aux niveaux national et international comme des lieux touristiques et attirent des pèlerins et des visiteurs du monde entier, a-t-il souligné. La notification contient une disposition prévoyant la création d'une autorité, avec des représentants de la communauté jaïn, pour définir des règles pour une meilleure gestion de Shri Sammed Shikharji, a-t-il ajouté.

Il a déclaré que le gouvernement de l'État était également prêt à modifier la classification et à inclure "lieu religieux jaïn" pour Sammed Shikharji. Le sanctuaire de Parasnath Hills dans le district de Giridih, qui abrite le plus haut sommet de l'État à environ 160 km de la capitale de l'État, Ranchi, est l'un des lieux les plus sacrés des jaïns, y compris pour les sectes Digambar et Shwetambar, puisque 20 des 24 Jain Tirthankaras ont atteint 'moksha' (salut) à cet endroit. M. Kumar a déclaré que Parasnath Hills ne ressemble à aucun autre lieu touristique normal car il relève de la juridiction d'un sanctuaire de la faune et, même pour les petites constructions, une autorisation doit être demandée aux autorités de la faune. La communauté jaïn, cependant, craint que des hôtels, des bars et des restaurants ne s'y installent "détruisant le caractère sacré de l'endroit". "La proposition du gouvernement d'inclure 'lieu religieux jaïn' dans la notification n'est qu'un collyre. Nous sommes une communauté minoritaire qui contribue de manière significative à l'économie. Nous exigeons que la notification soit supprimée", a déclaré Padam Kumar Chhabra, un chef de la communauté jaïn de Ranchi. . Les jaïns sont une petite minorité - environ 1% de la population indienne - mais ont été influents dans les affaires et forment environ 5% du district de Mumbai City, considéré comme la capitale financière du pays. La Commission nationale pour les minorités en a pris note et a programmé une audience le 17 janvier. Elle peut faire des recommandations aux gouvernements.

[organic-homegrown-boyfriend]

I very nearly fell off my chair laughing when I had a look at your "long reblog with actual cases" and you mentioned only three cases. Now let's tear down your false narrative, shall we? Let's have a look at how minorities are facing atrocities by this Hindutva extremists:

Muslim Teen Lost Home For 'Spitting' On Hindu Rally, Now Witness' Flip-Flop. After five months behind bars, the teenager is out on bail because the complainant, also the prime witness, refused to identify him.

Muslim man tied up to a pole with saffron bands and beaten for hours (until death) at a busy crossroad in Delhi – all for eating a banana from a pandal.

‘All Skull Cap Wearers Are Terrorists’: 12-year-old Madrassa Student Allegedly Assaulted by Police in Jharkhand

Halal Ban: A Look At Growing Polarising Food Politics In Uttar Pradesh (Outlook)

Muslim man lynched, day later Hindutva groups disrupt protest for Babri in West Bengal (Sabrang)

West Bengal: Muslim Man Beaten To Death Over Suspected Theft In Chandannagar

Rajasthan: Junaid-Nasir Were Killed 9 Months Ago, Their Families Remain In Dread.

In MP, bulldozer injustice: Muslim lives erased

VHP organises Muslim-free ‘mehendi camps’ in UP’s Muzaffarnagar

UP: Muslim man dies after being attacked by Hindu mob celebrating Dussehra

41 Incidents In 9 months: Urged On By BJP Leaders, Maharashtra Has Emerged As India’s Communal Tinderbox

Over 100 Muslim Homes, Between 50 & 60 Years Old, Razed For Rail Project In UP’s Mathura, Hindu Houses Intact

Rajasthan:18-Year-Old Mohammad Iqbal Beaten To Death By Mob In Jaipur

Indore: Hindu mob assaults Muslim women over Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi decorations

‘Shattered’: Muslim engineer killed by mob at mosque in India’s Maharashtra

SP, Uttarkashi Provides Investigation Report on Forced Exodus of Muslims in June

Three Dargahs bulldozed, smashed by Hindutva group amid Jai Shri Ram war-cry in Rishikesh

Posters appear asking Muslims to ‘leave Gurugram or face the heat’ prior to VHP’s ‘Shobha yatra’

Teacher orders classmates to beat up Muslim student after he forgot his multiplication tables. SC raps UP government for not taking up the case seriously.

Muslim man beaten to death by goons in Karnataka after Hindutva hate speech.

Bihar: Muslim man allegedly lynched by cow vigilantes.

Uttar Pradesh: Hindutva goons force Muslim man to shut shop named after Sai Baba

Rajasthan: Right-wing extremists attack Muslim man and non-Muslim woman for travelling together

Assam: Bajrang Dal assaults Muslim family publicly

UP: Right-wing group vandalises vegetarian food cart run by Muslim vendor

Karnataka: Muslim man beaten up for travelling with Hindu woman in autorickshaw

Madhya Pradesh: Disabled senior citizen ‘suspected of being Muslim’ thrashed, found dead

UP: Cops electrocute Muslim youth, insert stick in his rectum, violate judicial precedents on torture

UP: House of activist Afreen Fatima demolished

Mathura: Cow vigilantes target Muslim family

UP: SI subjects Muslim man to 3rd-degree torture in cow-slaughter case

Madhya Pradesh: Muslim family brutally assaulted

Karnataka: a Muslim shopkeeper murdered as an alleged hate crime driven by ‘moral policing’ by Hindutva outfits

Karnataka: Hindutva leader performed a “purification” ceremony at Ladle Mashak Dargah

Madhya Pradesh: 50-year-old Muslim dargah vandalised, painted saffron

Karnataka: Mob shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram, forcibly enters heritage madrasa on Dussehra, performs puja

Chhattisgarh: Hindutva groups urge people to boycott Muslims

UP CM Adityanath targeted minorities in his speech again

BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh gives anti-Muslim hate speech at election meetings

Hate Offender Swami Jitendranand calls for lynching of pregnant women

This is barely scratching the surface of all the news (this entire list of 40 or so cases is hardly within the last two years... there are hundreds of such cases) I hear on an almost daily basis about the activities of Hindutva goons and elected BJP leaders, either threatening or lynching or making hate speeches against Muslims.

And if you want to talk about the dictatorial efforts of the current government, look no further than the weaponization of the Enforcement Directorate and CBI, the threats against twitter and banning of documentaries critical of the current government, the suspension of MPs and MLAs, internet shutdowns and media suppression, the deliberate inaction of police against people accused of crimes and hate speeches against minorities (which even the SC has rapped), the filing of anti terrorism cases and arrest and abuse of people over minor cases or even mere criticism, the usage of governers to block the functioning of the state assembly bills, the clashes with SC, usage of ordinances to override state rights, the democratic backsliding, human right violations and communal violence that has been condemned internationally by human rights groups, the threats against the SC judges by cabinet ministers, the Pegasus case etc.

And shamefully enough, the way this government has been using the full state machinery to promote and propagandize the inaugaration of a temple, even going to the extent of declaring a national holiday for government employees just goes to show how far they will go to trample on the foundational values as highlighted in the constitution.

Despite knowing all of these, if you still support the current government, BJP and its actions, its obvious you are a Hindu supremacist bootlicker going against all the foundational constitutional values of this nation and would rather see this country devolve into a Hindu supremacist North Korea and treat minorities as second class citizens.

Seeing the shit people say about Jews in the wake of the Israel-Palestine conflict when you’re Hindu is really just coming to the realisation that:

[rudrjobdesk]

Asaduddin Owaisi In Ranchi: रांची पहुंचे असदुद्दीन ओवैसी, कहा- हिंसा में JMM और BJP के कारण गई दो लोगों की जान

Asaduddin Owaisi In Ranchi: रांची पहुंचे असदुद्दीन ओवैसी, कहा- हिंसा में JMM और BJP के कारण गई दो लोगों की जान

Asaduddin Owaisi In Ranchi Highlights AIMIM के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष असदुद्दीन ओवैसी रांची पहुंचे JMM और BJP घटना के लिए जिम्मेदार हिंसा में मारे गए दोनों मृतकों के परिवार वालों से भी मिले Asaduddin Owaisi In Ranchi: रांची में हुई हिंसा पर AIMIM  के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष असदुद्दीन ओवैसी सभा को संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि रांची हिंसा में गए दो लोगों की जान की वजह सिर्फ JMM और BJP है। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि…

[tezlivenews]

झारखंड में नमाज रूम पर बवालः BJP विधायकों के हंगामे पर नाराज हुए स्पीकर, कहा- सदन को फुटपाथ ना बनाएं

झारखंड में नमाज रूम पर बवालः BJP विधायकों के हंगामे पर नाराज हुए स्पीकर, कहा- सदन को फुटपाथ ना बनाएं

रवि सिन्हा, रांचीझारखंड विधानसभा के मॉनसून सत्र (Jharkhand Assembly Monsoon Session) के तीसरे दिन मंगलवार को कार्यवाही शुरू होते ही विपक्षी विधायकों ने हंगामा करना शुरू कर दिया। इसके कारण सदन की कार्यवाही स्थगित करनी पड़ी। विपक्षी विधायकों के व्यवहार से आहत स्पीकर रवींद्र नाथ महतो ने कहा कि सदन को फुटपाथ ना बनाएं। इसके बाद बीजेपी के विधायकों ने सदन के वेल में बैठकर हनुमान चालीसा का पाठ किया।…

[townpostin]

Jharkhand Reschedules Excise Constable Recruitment Test

Physical test postponed to September 10 after 12 aspirant deaths spark protests Jharkhand government reschedules excise constable recruitment physical test following protests over 12 aspirant deaths, announces ADGP RK Mallik. RANCHI – The Jharkhand government has postponed the physical test for excise department constable recruitment to September 10 following protests over 12 aspirant…

[avitaknews]

Jharkhand Budget 2021: विपक्ष के हंगामे के बीच 91270 करोड़ का बजट पेश, स्‍कॉलरशिप, मजदूरी में बढ़ोत्‍तरी सहित कई योजनाओं का ऐलान

Jharkhand Budget 2021: विपक्ष के हंगामे के बीच 91270 करोड़ का बजट पेश, स्‍कॉलरशिप, मजदूरी में बढ़ोत्‍तरी सहित कई योजनाओं का ऐलान

विपक्ष के जोरदार हंगामे के बीच झारखंड सरकार ने बुधवार को अपना बजट पेश कर दिया। लगातार हो रही नारेबाजी और टोका-टाकी के बीच वित्‍त मंत्री रामेश्‍वर उरांव ने किसी तरह अपना बजट भाषण पूरा किया। इस दौरान भाजपा के सदस्‍य वेल में जा बैठे। बजट भाषण के दौरान लगातार विपक्षी सदस्‍यों की नारेबाजी आवाजें आती रहीं। इस बार झारखंड सरकार ने 91270 करोड़ रुपए का बजट पेश किया है।  बजट भाषण पढ़ते हुए वित्‍त मंत्री ने…

[vilaspatelvlogs]

BJP-JDU ने कांग्रेस पर लगाया किसान आंदोलन में फंडिंग करने का आरोप, RJD बोली-बैकफुट पर आ गई है सरकार

BJP-JDU ने कांग्रेस पर लगाया किसान आंदोलन में फंडिंग करने का आरोप, RJD बोली-बैकफुट पर आ गई है सरकार

पटना: किसान आंदोलन में फंडिंग को लेकर जेडीयू ने कांग्रेस पर निशाना साधा है. जेडीयू के प्रवक्ता सुहेली मेहता ने आरोप लगा��े हुए कहा कि अब कांग्रेस के पास कोई मुद्दा बचा नहीं है. किसानों ने अपनी बात रखी थी, लेकिन अब कांग्रेस इस आंदोलन को फंड करने का काम कर कर रही है. हमें बहुत पहले से पता है कि कांग्रेस राहुल गांधी (Rahul Gandhi) की सलाह पर देश को खत्म करने की कोशिश कर रही है. पार्टी को खुद के…

[shantinewshindi]

भाजपा की प्रदेश कमेटी की घोषणा को लेकर विरोध की सुगबुगाहट शुरू, पार्टी में ही उठने लगे स्वर भाजपा की प्रदेश कमेटी की घोषणा के दो दिन बाद धीर-धीरे विरोध के स्वर उभरने लगे हैं। खास कर झाविमो से बाबूलाल मरांडी के साथ आए नेता खुद को हाशिए पर मान रहे हैं। इसे लेकर उनके समर्थक विरोध में सामने आने... Source link

[ginazmemeoir]

Hey, could you please link some good resources on the Nupur Sharma and everything going on right now?

They might not be quite as accurate or diverse nonnie cause rn im busy with exams so please bear with me, but here you go.

For the uninformed, earlier this week, BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Navin Jindal had made derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammed, calling him a pedophile. The openly islamophobic ruling party's remarks have not only chipped off their global mask, but also deepend India's diplomatic woes as the Gulf nations along with several other Islamic countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh summoned Indian envoys and openly condemned the move. Protests have also become widespread in these nations, calling for a boycott of everything Indian. In India too, protests have been going on in Delhi, UP, West Bengal and Jharkhand, calling for the arrest of the politicians and have been turning violent in the latter two states.

The BJP however has distanced itself, calling their own politicians' statements as "fringe group elements" and has suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal instead. And all of this comes at a time when the party is at the height of their power, and also amidst rumours of the Culture Ministry doing a "racial purity" survey.

This one talks in detail

This one talks in brief

also read this and this

[infantisimo]

On 26 May, the farmers at the Delhi borders will complete six months of their protest against the three contentious farm bills. The farmers have decided to observe it as a ‘black day’, and have demanded that the central government resume talks with them. The last round of talks between the two parties was held on 22 January which ended in a stalemate. In their eleven rounds of talks, the farmers have remained adamant about the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The government had offered to stay the implementation of the three laws for one or one-and-a-half years — a demand subsequently rejected by the farmers’ groups. On MSP, the prime minister, finance ministers and the agriculture minister have said, multiple times, that the MSP procurement system will remain as it is.

Modi Govt’s Push for Cash Transfer for Food Subsidy — And Its Implications

While there is little evidence to suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government will give in to the farmer’s demands and withdraw the three laws and make MSP a legal right, if by some stroke of luck it were to happen, farmers might still face the same threats that arose from the three farm laws in the first place.

The Modi government’s push for cash transfer for food subsidy instead of giving subsidised food grains – something the discourse around farm bills has missed — endangers the MSP-supported food procurement system, apart from also threatening food security (which is beyond the scope of this piece) in the country.

Procurement under the MSP system is inextricably linked to the allotment of subsidised food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The Modi-led central government, however, is out to quietly dismantle this PDS system. On 7 February 2020, the Minister of State, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao, told the Rajya Sabha that states are now free to implement the scheme for the cash transfer of food subsidies (subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions regarding the preparedness for its implementation — which mostly concerns the seeding of bank accounts of recipients with their Aadhar).

The central government had first proposed replacing food subsidy with cash in a letter to states dated 10 February 2015, based on a recommendation made by a committee on the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which was chaired by former Food Minister Shanta Kumar.

While the states did not show much interest in the proposal at the time, the BJP government went ahead with notifying the Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules on 21 August 2015 without due accountability.

The scheme, which can also be viewed as Direct Benefits Transfer for food grains, was then implemented in Chandigarh, Puducherry and urban areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli after a quiet rollout by the central government in 2015. In 2017, the government had also launched a cash transfer scheme for food subsidies in Nagari block of Jharkhand on a pilot basis for ten months.

How the DBT Food Programme Works

Under the Aadhar-enabled DBT food programme, beneficiary households who are entitled to get subsidised food grains as part of the PDS, usually priced between Rs 1-3 per kg, from ration shops, instead get the subsidy amount in their bank accounts with which they can buy the grains at non-subsidised rates from the market. If implemented at a larger scale, these changes in the PDS are bound to erode the MSP procurement system slowly, and hence merits a closer look.

The subsidised food grains, such as rice and wheat, that are otherwise distributed by ration shops in most states and union territories under the PDS, is the produce that is bought by the government from farmers at Minimum Support Price.

If the government slowly stops distributing food grains in all ration shops, following the Chandigarh-Puducherry model, and gives cash to beneficiaries instead, the government will also invariably stop buying food grains from farmers at MSP — which is the most important instrument for the protection of farmers’ incomes so far. Buying grains from farmers at MSP will become unfeasible for the government if these grains cannot be offloaded and distributed to targeted households under PDS.

Issue of Govt Buying Food Grains at MSP to Export

If the government does not distribute food grains under PDS, but wants to keep procuring grains from farmers at MSP, the only options it will have is to either export the grains or store them infinitely — both solutions considered impractical by experts. “It will simply be immoral for the government to store food grains in a country such as India where thousands of people sleep empty-stomach every day,” said Dipa Sinha, Assistant Professor (Economics), Ambedkar University, Delhi, who is also associated with the Right to Food campaign.

The government buying food grains at MSP to export is seen as a ‘trade distorting’ exercise and is not allowed as per the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Complaints have been raised on multiple occasions against India in WTO by other countries, for crossing the subsidy ceiling in procurement of grains at MSP.

“DBT in food subsidy and procurement of grains at MSP cannot go hand in hand. If the government pushes for cash transfers for food subsidy, it will not be able to procure grains at MSP and even if it does, what will it do with it? On the other hand, WTO rules only allow India to buy food grains for distribution under PDS for food security under its green box measure. Procuring food grains otherwise is seen as an exercise to tamper with international prices,” Reetika Khera, Professor of Economics, IIT Delhi, had told this writer in an interview in 2018.

If the DBT food programme makes its way to more states, which is a real possibility given the BJP’s penchant for cash transfers, the MSP regime will not be safe with or without the repeal of the new farm laws.

If MSP were to become a legal right, the guarantee it will offer will have no value if the government stops procuring grains altogether. It is, hence, imperative that, along with the repeal of the farm laws and making MSP a legal right, farmers also demand that the central government roll back the cash transfers scheme for food subsidies completely.

[townpostin]

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