Why Modi government 3.0 keeps a distance from farmers protesting?

 "Abhi Supreme Court dekh rahi hai. Supreme Court ke jo nirdesh honge unaka paalan kiya jaega. The Supreme Court is currently looking into the issue. The Supreme Court's directives will be followed." Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said to reporters earlier this week, when asked if he would invite protesting farmers who have been sitting in at Shambhu, and Khanauri, on the Punjab-Haryana border, since February last.

Chouhan's cautious response to questions about the ongoing farmers' protests led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha indicates that the has changed its approach to dealing with farm stirrings. In contrast to its proactive engagement with agitating farm-unions during its previous term the NarendraModi NDA government 3.0 appears to be keeping a distance from the issue.

In the Modi 2.0 government, when farmers protested against the three central farm legislations (now repealed), a team of three union ministers consisting of then Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh tomar, Food Ministry Piyush goyal , and Minister of State of Commerce Somprakash held 11 rounds with their respective unions between October 14, 2020 and January 22, 2021. Even the Union Home Minister Amit shah rushed to the Pusa Complex in Delhi on one occasion to meet with farmer leaders at night. This was between October 14, 2020 and January 22, 2021.

Three Union Ministers -- Goyal, then Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, and MoS for Interior Affairs Nityanand Ra flew to Chandigarh in early February of last year to hold two rounds with the agitating Farm Unions.

The Centre has not engaged with protesting farmers since then despite their standoff. They have demanded legal status for Minimum Support Price and MSP of crops, as well as a waiver of farm debt.

Chouhan, for his part, has invited farmers to a meeting each Tuesday and met with some farmer groups. He also met with state Agriculture Ministers including Punjab Minister Gurmeet Sing Khudian to discuss the state of agriculture. He has yet to meet with the farmers who are agitating.

The government appears to think that the move by then Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Aggarwal to invite 29 protesting farm-unions to Delhi for the first round meeting with them on Krishi Bhawan, October 14, 2020 has fueled their protests rather than resolved the row. The meeting was a disaster as the farmers' leaders demanded the presence of Agriculture minister Tomar. The farmers ripped up copies of the three Bills and shouted slogans in front of Krishi Bhawan. The farmers' march to Delhi began on November 26, 2021. The government and the farmer unions held 10 additional rounds of discussions until January 22, 2020. These meetings were ineffective as the farmers refused to budge, and they continued their blockade at Delhi's borders.

The Supreme Court issued an order on January 12, 2021 to halt the implementation of farm laws. It also created a four member committee that would deliberate the three farm legislations. Bhupinder Mann, national President of Bhartiya Kisan Union and All India Kisan Coordination Committee and a member of the committee, recused himself. The other three members - Dr Parmod Kumar Joshuai, Director of South Asia at the International Food Policy Research Institute; Ashok Gulati - former Chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices - and Anil Ghanwat – president of Shetkari Sanghatana – deliberated and presented a report to

In an address to the country, Modi announced that three farm laws would be repealed on the occasion Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti, which will take place on 19 November 2021.

Since February 13, 2024, the SKM (nonpolitical) & KMM are camping at Shambhu & Khanauri border after Haryana Police halted their "Dilli chalo" march and blocked their entry to the state on their way to the National Capital.

The Centre could have changed its approach to the farm agitation due to a variety of factors. The current farm agitation is confined to the Punjab-Haryana boundary, and its geographic spread is not as large as the movement for 2020-21. The SKM, an umbrella organization of farm unions in Punjab and other states, has not joined the current protest despite its support. Thirdly, the current demonstration has multiple demands, including those that were made earlier. The 2020-21 movement, however, was directed at the three farm laws of the Centre.

Farmers have also remained steadfast. The farmers had not nominated any members to the committee that was announced by the PM to investigate various farm issues on November 19, 2021. On July 18, 2022 the Centre created a panel headed by former Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal to examine several topics, including making the MSP "effective and transparent".

Jagjit Singh Dalewal, the president of BKU Sidhupur in July 2022, split from the SKM to form the SKM(non-political). Dallewal is on a death-by-fast at Khanauri, since November 26, to insist that the Centre accepts the farmers' demands. The apex Court expressed concern about Dallewal’s health after hearing various petitions. Dallewal entered his 40th day of hunger strike on Saturday.

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H-1B visa under fire: Senator Sanders blasts Elon Musk and says tech giants abuse H-1B to replace US jobs

Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, expressed strong opposition to H-1B visas, and pushed back against the claims made by billionaire technology leaders, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Sanders criticized recent comments by Tesla's CEO Elon Musk as well as entrepreneur Vivek RAMaswamy who are both close allies to President-elect Donald Trump. Sanders also pushed back on claims made by other tech billionaires. Sanders said in a January 2 statement that "there has been much discussion about the H-1B Guest Worker Program. Elon Musk, along with other billionaire owners of tech companies, have claimed that the federal program is essential to our economy due to the shortage of highly-skilled American engineers and tech workers. "I disagree."

Sanders said that while proponents of the program claim it addresses a lack of highly-skilled American workers, it is a tool used to replace high-paying jobs in America with low-wage foreign workers. Sanders stated that "the main function of H-1B Visa program" is not to hire the "best and brightest," but to replace well-paying American positions with low-wage foreign indentured workers.

The hiring of guest workers and corporate layoffs are under scrutiny

Sanders cited data that showed major corporations using the H-1B Program laidoff at least 85,000 American employees in 2022 and 20, while hiring more than 34,000 H-1B Workers. He noted that Tesla laid off 7,500 employees, including software developers and engineers, but had been approved to hire thousands of H-1Bs. Sanders asked: "If there is a true shortage of skilled workers why are these layoffs happening?"

Questions raised about the jobs filled by H-1B workers

Senators also expressed concern about the roles that H-1B workers fill. Sanders cited associate accountants who earn $58,000 a year and material planners who make $80,000 a year as examples. Sanders said, "These jobs don't seem like they are highly specialized for the top 0.1%," in response to claims made by leaders of tech companies like Elon Musk.

Widespread misuse of H-1B Program highlighted

Sanders questioned whether these jobs really required foreign talent. He pointed out that the program was being used to fill such roles as dog trainers and massage therapists. He asked, "Can we not find English teachers here in America?"

Proposed reforms for American workers

Sanders demanded significant reforms of the H-1B Program, including increasing the minimum wage, ensuring that guest workers can easily switch jobs, and requiring companies to give priority to hiring American workers. Sanders also suggested increasing the guest worker fee to fund scholarships and training for American workers. Sanders stressed that it should never be cheaper to hire an overseas guest worker than an American employee.

The debate on economic inequality is at its core

The senator linked misuse of the H-1B to wider issues of economic inequity. Sanders said, "At a moment when the wealthiest three Americans own more than the bottom half, we need a system that works for everyone, not just a few."

Call for long-term solutions

Sanders called for a stronger education system in the United States to create a workforce that is well-educated and capable of meeting America's demands, such as technology, healthcare, or skilled trades. "The solution is not to import cheap labor from overseas. He concluded that the best way to solve this problem is by hiring qualified American workers.

This statement is a further intensification of the debate on the H-1B Program, and puts pressure on legislators and corporations to address concerns over labor practices and fair economic practices.

The H-1B Visa debate is heating up before Trump's inauguration

The debate about the H-1B program for highly-skilled foreign professionals is intensifying as Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in on January 20th, creating rifts between the Democratic and Republican parties. The H-1B visa program, which awards 65,000 visas per year, plus an additional 20,000 to those with advanced US degrees, is at the center of debates on immigration and job safety.

Trump supports H-1B visas

In an interview with The New York Post, President-elect Trump expressed his support for the program. He stated, "I have always liked visas." I've always supported visas. It's the reason we have them." His comments align with his vision to foster innovation and attract global talent to the US.

Key advisors support program

The H-1B program is also supported by two of Trump's closest allies: Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and entrepreneur Vivek Raaswamy. Both have been chosen to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Both have stressed its importance for filling critical gaps within specialized industries. Ramaswamy and Musk argued that the U.S. is lacking in many specialized fields, underlining the importance of the program in maintaining the competitive edge.

Trump's base reacts to the backlash

Trump has endorsed the H-1B program, but some of his supporters have been very critical. They claim that H-1B visas allow companies to hire foreign workers at lower wages, which is unfair for American workers. Critics say the program is a corporate profit-driven scheme that prioritizes foreign talent over local employment.

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