-The Tribune Right from the inception of parliamentary democracy in our country, every party has appointed a whip tasked with disciplining the elected representatives. But what about direct command from the voters? Why can’t the voters bypass the parties and instruct their representatives on how to conduct themselves in Parliament? THE Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s decision to issue a ‘voters’ whip’ is one more democratic innovation in these dark times when formal democratic...
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Can India actually afford MSP for farmers? It’s a question of political will -Kiran Vissa and Yogendra Yadav
-ThePrint.in If there is one moment to bust the myth about MSP being unviable, it is now, when lakhs of farmers are preparing to march to the capital on Republic Day. Can the farmers of India be offered a guaranteed remunerative price for their produce? The Narendra Modi government, some economists, and the country’s media would have you believe that this is impossible — both logistically and financially. They are wrong. They...
More »Modi govt is answerable to farmers, not the judiciary. SC’s mediation beyond its remit -Yogendra Yadav
-ThePrint.in Protesting farmers didn’t approach the court, neither did the Modi govt. And the SC put the constitutionality of the laws on the back burner. In rejecting the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee to mediate between farmers and the Narendra Modi government, the farmers’ organisations have not only wisely sidestepped a possible trap, but they have also reaffirmed a basic principle of democratic accountability and responsible governance. Let there be no confusion about it....
More »First survey of farmers after Modi govt’s 3 farm laws is bad news for the BJP -Yogendra Yadav
-ThePrint.in The Gaon Connection survey suggests that the govt and media would live in denial if they see farmers’ protests as a rebellion of the entitled. Is farming profitable?” Now, take a guess: from which part of India do you expect to hear a ‘yes’ to this question? I bet you would say, Punjab and Haryana, followed by Maharashtra and other western states. South might come after that. And you would expect...
More »What economists like Ashok Gulati still don’t understand about agriculture in India -Yogendra Yadav
-ThePrint.in Indian farmers have read the writing on the wall. India’s economists have not. Do Indian farmers understand the agrarian economy better than Ashok Gulati? Ridiculous as it might sound, the answer could well be: yes. Professor Ashok Gulati is the leading agricultural economist in India, and among the scholars I read, consult and respect. He combines solid scholarship with genuine concern for the farmers. He has the spine to stand against governments...
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