Farmer Leader Darshan Pal Urges UN To Intervene
In his address to the 46th session of the United Nation Human Rights Council on Monday, farmer leader Darshan Pal stressed that the recently enacted farm laws in India were a violation to the UN Declaration on The Rights Of Peasants, to which New Delhi was a signatory.
Speaking through Sikh Human Rights Group, Dr Darshan Pal said Indian farmers had access to an established farm infrastructure along with a minimum support price for their produce that has traditionally helped small farmers and peasants in the country. “Indian farmers love their country and land… and states have ensured farmers a decent livelihood,” he said.
However, the farmer leader added, the new farm laws threaten the existing infrastructure and “will not double the income of farmers” as claimed by the Narendra Modi government. It will also take away the access to law of courts from the farmers in case of a dispute with the corporate buyers that the new laws seek to bring into picture, he said.
Dr Darshan Pal said he was grateful that United Nations was listening to the cause of small farmers from India and urged the world body to remind New Delhi of its obligation towards the UN declaration on peasants and small farmers in order to safeguard their interests.
Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
