India dwells in unearthing uniform solutions for everything across the length and breadth of the vast Indian continent. This has resulted in anomalies, concerns and strife on agricultural, economic, religious and political issues. Rebutting this campaign for uniformity, in toto, a string of Punjab scholars, activists and farmers in a joint statement, have sought the right of farmers to determine the price of their agricultural produce and the right to trade internationally with a region of their choice, at par with all other producers of all other products.

THE CURRENT ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO FOIST UNIFORM ANTI-FARMER LAWS, WHICH ARE  also against the legitimate economic and political interests of the farmers in Punjab, has received a strong and determined response from the people of Punjab. Political leaders, activists, singers, academicians and student bodies, men and women have converged onto streets or in protests dotting all parts of the state of Punjab.

Giving a comprehensive and clear reply to the government of India and spelling out a clear line that the leaders of the protests across the state of Punjab must take, a bunch of scholars and activists, who have been closely studying the issues since the last decades, in a statement have said, “The Punjab farmers’ fight is not about a few concessions and facilities. It should be focussed on obtaining the right to self-determine the course of action to be taken by farmers.”

“It is one thing to resolve current issues and another to get to the root of the problem and evolve long-term solutions.”

“Industrialists, technicians, technocrats, services and the arts sectors -all have the legitimate right and freedom to determine the price of their product and so should the farmer.”

Ajaypal Singh, Writer and Public Speaker

Speaking to the World Sikh News, author-activists Ajaypal Singh Brar said, “Industrialists, technicians, technocrats, services and the arts sectors -all have the legitimate right and freedom to determine the price of their product and so should the farmer.”

“It is highly ironic that the price of the tools, seeds, fertilizers, anti-weeds and other chemicals used as inputs by the farmers is determined by the respective companies and not by the end-user -farmer but in the case of the Punjab farmers, the prices are determined by the Union government in Delhi,” he added.

“Unquestionably, the right over Punjab waters is that of the people of Punjab and this has been trampled and grabbed by the powers that be from Delhi and is being distributed against riparian principles. The primary issue is the right of the people of Punjab over its waters and other natural resources. These rights must be reinstated.”

Pardeep Singh, writer and film producer

Explaining the statement, a young farmer and political exponent Mandhir Singh elaborated from the statement, “In the Indian environment, there is a vast range of difference in the climatic conditions, soil quality and condition and the waters available for agriculture. Likewise, the consumption of farm inputs is different in all areas. Therefore, it is not possible to determine a single uniform price for all the states. It is not fair to do so. The right to determine the farm produce of each area should be of a body of local farmers, agricultural experts of that particular area and local governmental representatives.”

If the leadership of India is clamouring for the best price for farmers beyond the constraints of agents and governmental agencies, then, the statement added that “all rights of marketing and international trade of farm produce should be given to Punjab farmers. Geographically speaking, it can be more beneficial to the Punjabi farmer to trade with Pakistan, Arab countries and other Central-Asian countries.”

Sikh Siyasat editor Parmjeet Singh -wrapped up the argument, in a nutshell, saying, “We believe that this struggle should be fought not just for a few concessions and facilities but for the legitimate freedom to make decisions suitable to the interest of the farmers and the people of Punjab.”

There is no doubt in the minds of the people of Punjab, especially the farmers and the political leadership that Punjab’s waters and other natural resources have been virtually looted by its neighbouring states under illegal laws framed by the Union of India.

Writer and Film producer Pardeep Singh said, “Unquestionably, the right over Punjab waters is that of the people of Punjab and this has been trampled and grabbed by the powers that be from Delhi and is being distributed against riparian principles. The primary issue is the right of the people of Punjab over its waters and other natural resources. These rights must be reinstated.”

“These issues are not just economic but political in nature. There is a need to start a political struggle for the restoration of the right to determine farm produce price and the unfettered right to international trade. “

Jagmohan Singh, Editor, The World Sikh News

WSN editor Jagmohan Singh, who is also one of the signatories commented from the statement, “These issues are not just economic but political in nature. There is a need to start a political struggle for the restoration of the right to determine farm produce price and the unfettered right to international trade. Ultimately, we need to have a political dispensation where the fundamental right to make political decisions is that of the people of the region.”

Those who endorsed the document included -writer and public speaker Ajaypal Singh Brar, University researcher Anup Singh Ghania, Accounts officer Inderpreet Singh Sangrur, Karanjit Singh Kaathgarh, Panthic activists Mandhir Singh, Gurjant Singh, Gangvir Singh Rathore, Paramjit Singh Mand, Malkeet Singh Bhawanigarh, Ranvir Singh, Rajpal Singh Sandhu Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Sukhjeet Singh, Sukhdeep Singh Meeke, Ravinder Singh Dharamgarh, Farmers -Gurnam Singh Moonkan, Gurpal Singh, Gurpreet Singh Khudda, Davinder Singh Sekhon, Sukhwinder Singh, Harjinder Singh WSN editor Jagmohan Singh, student leader Jujhar Singh, writer and film producer Pardeep Singh, Organic Farm Produce trader Ramneek Singh, Software Engineer Suman Kumar, Harpreet Singh, Harbakhash Singh, Electrical Engineer Harmandeep Singh, and student Sukhminder Singh.