Former army chief now supports farmers

Former army chief now supports farmers

V.K. Singh backs opposition to freeing sugar sector, may join farmers in gheraoing Parliament next month

New Delhi: Former army chief V.K. Singh has now backed a farmers’ body that is opposing a government panel report on decontrol of the sugar sector, after lending support to activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal, yoga guru Baba Ramdev and veteran activist Anna Hazare.

The farmers’ body, called Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (RKMS), which is opposed to the Rangarajan Committee report on freeing the sugar sector, plans to surround the Parliament on 4 December if its demands are not met.

Singh said the committee’s recommendation on doing away with state advisory price (SAP) and cane reservation area will adversely affect the farmers of northern states.

He said the revenue sharing formula suggested by the panel is unfair and does not provide a level-playing field to the northern states, where sugar recovery is below 9%. The panel suggests 70% revenue be paid based on an average 10.31% recovery of sugar.

Singh also said the centre should not fix fair and remunerative price and current system of SAP and cane area reservation should continue. He said the farmers’ body has no objection to other recommendations of the panel.

Singh, who had demanded the dissolution of the Parliament last week, declined to commit on whether he would be part of the protest, saying “we shall cross the bridge when it comes”.

The former army chief, however, faced uncomfortable questions on his knowledge about the sugar industry. “I know about the sugar industry,” Singh replied.

When asked about the reason behind supporting such a variety of people and causes, including sharing a stage with Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Prakash Chautala, at a social function on Thursday, Singh retorted: “If you can explain to me the meaning of clarity, I will answer your question.”

Singh has decided to join Hazare after he split with Kejriwal. A similar trend is being seen with Kejriwal, who is aligning with a number of smaller organizations and anti-graft movements ahead of his formal party launch on 26 November.

Experts say that the growing trend of aligning with smaller movements and organizations is an attempt to occupy the political space which is otherwise not available.

Subrata Mukherjee, a former professor at the political science department in Delhi University, said that while Singh carries “an aura of office” with him, it is not very clear if he would be able to sustain the movement.

“They are all trying to look out for a space within the political spectrum. Through the smaller organizations and movements, they are trying to gain that space and take it away from the conventional political parties,” Mukherjee said. “While the pressure groups can highlight issues, it does not go beyond that.”