'Restructure' debts of farmers, demands Yadav

Ahead of its planned 'tractor march' to Parliament, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav today demanded "restructuring" of farmers' debts saying they were entitled to it like private companies.
He also claimed to have forged a broad-based coalition on the question of farmers' rights to take on the Centre over the contentious land Bill.
"It should be done the way debts of private companies are restructured. After all farmers should have as much right to restructuring as any business baron," he said.
Yadav, who has till now refused a possible electoral role for the group, said the ongoing 'Jai Kisan Andolan', was essentially "political" in nature but it "would not" enter into a coalition with any mainstream political party.

He said his movement against the land bill would have more impact than the ones being waged by political parties. He had a bitter parting with AAP earlier this year.
"Because all the mainstream political parties have conspired against the farmers. BJP today is only following Congress's anti-farmer policies.

"In history these kinds of movements by broad coalitions have had more impact on various issues. And in a deeper sense farmers agitation is inherently political," Yadav said.
Speaking at a press conference, at the end of a two-day long conclave, Yadav put on a show of strength as he sat flanked by heads of several farmers' groupings from across the country.

"Most trustworthy and honest faces of the farmers movement are joining our Jai Kisan Andolan when there is a near consensus that all the major parties have betrayed their cause," he said.
He also placed a set of demands before the BJP-led Centre namely withdrawal of the land bill, a white paper on land available with the government, minimum wages for farmers, time bound compensation for crop loss.
"There should also be a white paper on debt of farmers. Landless labourers families should be given at least 3 acre and minimum Rs 15,000 for a family of five," he said.

The march is scheduled to be flagged off from Punjab's Barnala on August 1, following which it will make its way through Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh before reaching the national capital on August 10.