09 November 2024, Chandigarh: The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have slammed the BJP-led central government for imposing a double fine on farmers for stubble burning.
The General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja, said that instead of working in the interest of the farmers, the BJP government is focused on oppressing and exploiting them. Farmers are being fined and cases are being registered against them in various places. On one hand, farmers are facing hardships in the markets, and on the other, the central government has now decided to double the fine for stubble burning. The Congress condemns this decision by the Centre. The government should encourage farmers instead of harassing them so that they can find alternative ways to increase their income without burning crop residue.
In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that farmers are still struggling to fight for their rights, and 750 farmers have lost their lives in this struggle. Instead of listening to their concerns, the government is engaged in repressive policies to oppress and exploit them. She said that stubble burning is not a recent issue; it has been happening for years. There is no doubt that stubble burning increases air pollution. The government should create a system so that farmers do not have to burn stubble. By utilizing stubble, the government can produce electricity. If the government wishes, it can set up stubble purchasing centres at the district level and dispose of the stubble at its own level.
Selja added that the government cannot shirk its responsibility by imposing fines on those who burn stubble or by registering cases against them. Following strict remarks from the Supreme Court on the issue of air pollution caused by stubble burning, the central government has now taken out its frustration on farmers by deciding to double the fine for stubble burning. On Thursday, the Ministry of Environment issued a notification to double the penalty amount. Now, a fine of ₹5,000 will be imposed on landowners with less than two acres, ₹10,000 for two to five acres, and ₹30,000 for those with more than five acres. The governments of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi will be required to implement these rules.
Kumari Selja said that the government should refrain from registering cases against farmers. On the other hand, by suspending agricultural department officials and employees who are unable to prevent stubble burning, the government seeks to avoid the Supreme Court’s strictness. She said that the government needs to formulate a solid strategy for stubble management, rather than solely blaming farmers. The government should also reflect on its own responsibilities.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also strongly criticised the Central Government’s decision to double the fine for stubble burning. AAP senior leader and spokesperson Neel Garg stated that farmers in Punjab are already facing financial hardship, and now, on top of that, the Central Government has imposed a double fine on them.
Neel Garg said that the Punjab Government had sought Rs. 1200 crore from the Centre to tackle this issue and reduce incidents of stubble burning by providing financial incentives to farmers to discourage the practice. He questioned why the Centre had refused to provide this assistance if they were genuinely concerned about stubble burning?
Garg pointed out that, due to the efforts of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP government, the number of stubble-burning incidents in Punjab had significantly reduced over the past three years. If the Centre had provided the requested financial support, these incidents would have dropped even further. However, instead of offering help, the Centre has imposed a fine.
Garg further stated that Punjab’s farmers are seeking resources for stubble management and even want alternatives to paddy cultivation. If there was a guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for alternative crops, they would stop growing paddy altogether. However, the Centre is neither purchasing crops at the MSP rate nor providing any alternative options.
He criticized the move to double the fine, calling it a method to harass and intimidate the farmers of Punjab. He appealed to the Central Government to stop troubling farmers and instead offer support, as these are the same farmers who fill the country’s grain reserves, feeding people across the nation.
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