Renowned economist, former Chief Economist of the World Bank and India’s former Chief Economic Advisor, Kaushik Basu has lambasted the Government over India’s new farm bills.
Kaushik Basu termed India’s new farm bills as ‘flawed’ and ‘detrimental to farmers’.
The former India Chief Economic Advisor said that the new laws will serve corporate interests more instead of the Country’s farmers.
“I’ve now studied India’s new farm bills & realize they are flawed & will be detrimental to farmers. Our agriculture regulation needs change but the new laws will end up serving corporate interests more than farmers. Hats off to the sensibility & moral strength of India‘s farmers,” he tweeted.
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His tweets received widespread reactions, with many standing with the government, while many supporting his views.
I’ve now studied India’s new farm bills & realize they are flawed & will be detrimental to farmers. Our agriculture regulation needs change but the new laws will end up serving corporate interests more than farmers. Hats off to the sensibility & moral strength of India’s farmers.
— Kaushik Basu (@kaushikcbasu) December 11, 2020
Meanwhile, farmers’ protests against the new farm bills near Delhi continue, with no end in sight.
Talks between the protesting farmers and the Government seem to have hit a deadlock as the protests entered its 16th day on Friday.
Notably, farmers have rejected the Centre’s offer to amend the farm laws and are standing firm on their demand of completely repealing the newly passed farm laws.
The Centre, meanwhile, has reportedly planned massive campaigns to highlight the positive points of the three agri-marketing bills that were passed in the Parliament recently.
The protesting farmers have refused to budge from their stand and are continuing with their protests at different borders of Delhi.
The protesting farmers are garnering massive support from different sections of the society, with opposition political parties and farmers union across the Country extending support to them.
Notably, at least five protesting farmers have died during the protests so far.