The use of less-lethal weapons to tackle agitating crowds has remained under scanner for long and has been recorded and documented in studies, carried out by likes of human rights watch Amnesty International and Bureau of Police and Research Development (BPRD), India.
Calling demand for legalised MSP “illogical and practically impossible”, Johl says government cannot procure entire produce. He adds free power and water in Punjab needs to stop to promote diversification. He says “political motives” behind protests were harming farmer interest.
Farmers demanding legal guarantee for MSP have invoked recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, which said MSP should be ‘at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production’
Interestingly, while the BJP-led Haryana government acted tough on the agitating farmers, party leaders in Punjab were seen welcoming them with refreshments.