Thread by @suresh_ediga

#MPConversations #FarmersDilliChalo

Conversation with BJP MP. The call lasted for over 7 minutes and ended with the MP in complete silence.

Me: Sir, what is your opinion on the farmers protest against the farm bills

MP: I believe the Prime Minister has introduced the farm bills to help the farmers. In fact Congress has been wanting to introduce these laws since 1950, but they never did and we did it. The farmer will have the freedom to sell the harvest anywhere he wants to.

For e.g. rice is expensive in Maharashtra and not so much in Telangana. So farmer from Telangana can sell it in Maharashtra. Similarly the companies will now work with the farmers. They will pay the farmers in advance.
(and the MP went on sing laurels about the PM)

Me: Sir, but why do you think the farmers are protesting?
MP: They are instigated by the traders and the middlemen and the opposition parties

Me: There are several lakhs of farmers who are at the borders trying to enter Delhi.

Are you saying all of them are instigated by the traders and opposition. If the opposition was that strong, the farm bills wouldn't have passed
MP: The farm bills are very farmer friendly. We are telling the farmers the same but if they don't listen, what are we to do

Me: Sir, who passes such laws in midst of a pandemic. With no public consultation, with no parliamentary oversight & we all saw what speaker did in RS, how do you expect farmers to know all details. More than 50% of farmers don't even know anything about these laws
MP: (Silent)

Me: And who treats the farmers like this? Spraying water cannons, firing tear gas, arresting them, latti-charging them - who treats the farmers this way?
MP: (Hesitantly speaks) I haven't seen the news, so don't know anything about it. I'm in the midst of campaigning

Me: Sir, this is the problem. You are always campaigning. And nothing else. You use the farmers for your elections and discard them, after the elections. You do the same and the PM does the same thing. How disrespectful it is to treat the farmers this way?

Why such hatred for the farmers? Why are they not being allowed to protest?
MP: (Even more hesitantly) .. I will speak to the party

Me: Sir, just speaking isn't enough. You have to apologise for the way farmers are treated. You have to listen to what farmers have to say. If you are intention is to pass the laws to help the farmers, then you have to take their opinions into consideration
MP: Yes(ends the call)

Please do call the MPs and ask them about farmer protests - myneta.info/LokSabha2019/i…