Over 800 Academicians From DU, JNU, BHU And Other Reputed Universities Back Govt's Agri Reform Laws

In a boost for the Central government, 866 academicians from noted universities across the country have come out in support of the recently passed agricultural reform laws at a time when protestors from Punjab and Haryana have been demanding the withdrawal of the three Acts, reports The Print.

Academicians from universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Allahabad University and Banaras Hindu University, among others have issued a statement asserting that they “strongly support the proposed agricultural reforms”.

It should be noted that while supporting the new laws, the academicians have said that they stand in solidarity with both the government and the farmers and salute their intense efforts.

In the statement, academicians have asserted that they strongly believe in the government’s assurance to the farmers to protect the farmers’ livelihoods, and it will not take the food from their plate.

The statement reads, "It has come to notice that the three Agro Acts seek to free farm trade from all restriction and enable farmers for all transaction at competitive prices. The Union government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three bills on farm trade wouldn’t do away with Minimum Support Price (MSP), but rather free the farm trade from all illicit market restrictions, open the market beyond ‘mandis’ and further assists the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at market/competitive prices. The new laws also provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce."

Signatories to the statement include Prof Vinod Kumar Jain, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Tezpur University; Prof H C S Rathore, VC of the Central University of South Bihar; Associate Prof Dr AK Bhagi and Prof Niranjan Kumar of Delhi University; Prof Tej Pratap Singh from Banaras Hindu University; and Prof Heeraman Tiwari from Jawaharlal Nehru University, among others.