866 academics, including 7 VCs, back new farm laws

NEW DELHI: Over 860 academicians, including seven vice chancellors, from different educational institutions across the country have issued a statement expressing their support for the three farm laws against which thousands of farmers have been protesting on borders of the national capital for over a month.
"It has come to notice that these 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 and competitive prices. The new laws also provide full autonomy for farmers to sell their produce," said the statement signed by 866 educators from across India.
"We 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 government is still firmly committed to delivering the principle of minimum government, maximum governance. Thus, we stand in solidarity with both the government and the farmers and salute their intense efforts," it added.
The signatories to the solidarity statement include VCs of Tezpur University, Rajiv Gandhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Central University of Bihar, English and Foreign Languages University Hyderabad and North Eastern Hill University. The other signatories are academicians from DU, JNU, Gorakhpur University, Rajasthan University and Gujarat University, among others.