Indian missions abroad are ‘busting myths’ about farm laws as protests create global buzz
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Diplomacy

Indian missions abroad are ‘busting myths’ about farm laws as protests create global buzz

Missions in Ottawa, Paris, Islamabad have shared information on ‘myths and facts’ about the three farm laws against which farmers are protesting.

Nayanima Basu    
Farmers protest at the Haryana-Delhi border at Singhu | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Farmers protest at the Haryana-Delhi border at Singhu | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: Indian missions abroad have launched a diplomatic offensive of sorts by sharing “myth busters” around the three controversial farm laws on issues such as minimum support price (MSP), mandis and operation of agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). 

The efforts seem to have been made after prominent Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, spoke out on the matter supporting the farmers’ right to peacefully protest. 

During a virtual address to members of the Sikh community on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti Monday, Trudeau said: “The situation is concerning. We are all very worried about family and friends. I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protest.” 

Hours later, the Indian mission in Canada sought to quell “myths” around the three farm bills — Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 — by retweeting relevant posts through its official Twitter handle.

According to @MyGovIndia, it is a myth that “farm bills are a conspiracy to phase out the safety net of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers” and the fact is “farm bills are not going to effect MSP at all. The MSP system will continue”.

The government has through this handle posted a number of slides with hashtag ‘mythbusters’ to share information about the farm laws. 

Indian High Commissioner in Canada Ajay Bisaria had shared a few of those slides on 30 November.

On Tuesday, the Indian mission in France also shared a few tweets on “busting the myths about the new Agricultural Reforms”. 

According to the posts, the farm law “clearly prohibits sale, lease or mortgage of farmers’ land. Agreement will be for crops and not for land” and that these bills will give “more options” to farmers. 

The information was also shared by the respective official Twitter handles of the Indian missions in Pakistan and in Beijing.

 

Also read:Trudeau backs farmers protest, but Canada has always challenged India’s farm subsidies at WTO