Thread by @SatyshivS

Punjab has about 10 Lakh farm families (All India 15 crores). State govt gives them an electricity subsidy of about Rs 8000 crore. Center gives them a fertilizer subsidy of Rs 5,000 crore. That is Rs 13000 crores or about Rs 1.3 Lakhs per household.

#FarmersProtestHijacked

See how since 2014-15 (When the Modi government came in power), procurement of rice by the center has consistently increased year on year.

Also, notice how MSPs saw a big jump in 2018-19. In 7 years, MSP for paddy is up by 43%.

#FarmersWithPmModi

Look at state wise disparity in central procurement.

Punjab & Haryana sell almost entire production to the government. This year, even Andhra, Telangana and Chhattisgarh have sold more.

But large producers like UP, Bihar, West bengal are left out

#FarmersWithModi

Punjab sold 100 Lakh Metric Tons or 10 Crore Quintals of Paddy. At a price that is Rs 500 more than market price. So that is another 5000 crore from tax payer. Or another Rs 50,000 per farm family and as usual large farmers would have got crores

#FarmersWithModi #FarmersProtest

Assuming similar figure for wheat, Tax payer is giving about Rs 2.5 Lakh to every farm family of Punjab every year. I as tax payer demand that our money should benefit small farmers

केवल करदाता ही असली अन्नदाता है। बाक़ी सब मात्र लाभार्थी हैं।

#8_दिसंबर_भारत_बन्द नहीं होगा।

Another interesting point is how Punjab, the richest state of India for 50 years since independence has fallen significantly behind many states in last 20 years.

They are losing industry. Have very low participation in service industry. Fear for future is natural.

For decades the Indian government has patronized Punjab & Haryana farmers. Now they fear losing that privilege. Many of them have grown lazy. Free electricity, cheap pesticides & fertilizers, Bihari workers and an assured high price has spoiled them.

#ModiWithFarmers

Should the Indian government and taxpayers continue to fund them? NO.

Will reforms alone increase the income of farmers in India? NO.

Can the government afford to buy crops from farmers throughout the country at MSP? NO.

#FarmersWithModi #ModiWithFarmers

Farmers' income can be increased substantially ONLY by taking a substantial number of people out of farming. 45% people can’t be accommodated in a sector that is 13% of GDP. With #DirectCashRelief for most vulnerable, we need to slowly stop feeding fat cats.

#FarmersWithModi

A very good article by Prof @ShamikaRavi on #FarmerPolitics in Punjab.

theprint.in/opinion/debt-u…

See & Share this brilliant talk by @agulati115 Ji on #FarmLaws (though the headline is misleading)

However, @jomalhotra looks totally clueless and has not done even basic homework.

#FarmerBill2020 #FarmerPolitics

So I am not alone who felt that @jomalhotra was totally out of her depth. Many times she looked dazed when presented with basic facts. Why can't journos prepare a little better?

Hope @ShekharGupta gives her the right feedback

#FarmerPolitics

Few more comments from viewers. Yes @jomalhotra looked very uncomfortable with facts presented by #AshokGulati and no wonder she came up with such a misleading headline for this interview

Maybe an anti-government headline encourages some of the protestors to watch this.