Tag: farm bills

WHEN THE ‘TOOLKIT’ BECOMES THE TOOL

In light of the recent ‘Farmer’s protest toolkit controversy’, a 22-year-old environmental activist from Bengaluru, Disha Ravi has been arrested by the Delhi police on Sunday 14th February 2021. She is now under five-day police custody as the Delhi Magistrate decided to remand her following the arrest. She has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 124(a) for sedition, 153(a) for promoting enmity between different sections of the society and 120(b) for criminal conspiracy. She is accused of involvement in the composition of the “toolkit”, an online document shared by the International environmental activist Greta Thunberg, which consists of action plans to protest against the farm bill. Police claimed that the toolkit had the violence on 26th January as one of its “action plans” to protest against the farm bill, in addition to the pro-Khalistani elements.

Since last October, thousands of farmers have been camping on the national capital borders, protesting against the three newly passed farm laws introduced by the NDA government. On the republic day, the tractor rally conducted by the protesting farmers has resulted in great commotion as the farmers attempted to enter the national capital region, storming the Red Fort complex and clashing with the police and security forces. The police allege that plans for such actions were formulated in the online document, described as a “toolkit” that Ravi created and shared with Thunberg. “The main aim of the toolkit was to create misinformation and disaffection against the lawfully enacted government,” said a police official. “The toolkit sought to artificially amplify the fake news through various tweets which they have created in the form of a tweet bank. The document that they drafted had secessionist and pro-Khalistani content embedded into it through links and texts” he added. 

The arrest of Disha has instigated furious criticism against the fascist actions of the government regarding the farmers protest. The efforts made by the government to silence and oppress the voice of the farmers and the people supporting them is more of a provocative manner than a call for peace.

A Contentious call

Widespread chaos have been witnessed on the borders of the national capital since 26 November as a retaliation that came with the recently passed Farm Bills. The farmers of Punjab and Haryana are protesting against two Farm Bills passed by Rajya Sabha.

  • The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, and
  • The Farmer’s (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.


The Trade and Commerce Bill allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the monopoly cartel of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated markets providing the farmers with more choice regarding who to sell their produce.

The Empowerment and Protection Bill provides with a framework for contract farming enabling the farmers to strike a deal before the production happens. Inter-state or intra-state trade of farmers’ produce beyond physical premise of APMC Markets is also authorized.

The bills enables the farmers to bypass the Essential Commodities Act and vanquish the monopoly cartel of APMC Mandi and sell the produce irrespective of the boundaries and entering into contracts with businessman thus transferring the risk before the yield is produced. These Bills have made the farmer’s upset as they fear that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) that have been acting as a safety net since the Green Revolution might be snatched away.

Government procurements may also be affected due to the introduced reforms. If the government stops buying their produce only the big corporate will be available to sell and farmers show lack of faith in them. Many statements have been given by the government regarding the same but it did nothing assuage the unrest. Protests have taken form of dharnas, Raasta rook, demonstrations and even led to Bharat Band. Casualties are also reported during the protests but what is certain is that the farmers need a strong validation and reassuring statement from the government. Youth worldwide is also showcasing their support and many hashtags are used such as

#SpeakUpForFarmers, #tractor2twitter, #StandwithFarmersChallenge and many more.

A wave of uncertainty and fear is discerned among farmers. Many meetings are being held to bring in a solution. But a very important fact remains that the lack of communication, understanding and inclusion has led to the widespread protest and difficulties being faced by the farmers. A real or a misinformed fear, it is not small.