Elections Were Fought Over Potato & Onion Prices. Now They Aren’t Even on Essential Commodities List

The Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament this year, being held as it is in the midst of a pandemic, is turning out to be an eventful one. Whether that is for the right reasons or not, time will tell. However, it is a session in which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition has passed several bills that will have a major impact on Indian farmers despite strong resistance from the Opposition. The latest bill is an amendment to the Essential Commodities Act that removes cereals, pulses, potato, onion, edible oilseeds, and oils from the list of essential commodities.

Parliament passes bill to remove cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from list of essential commodities

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2020

Essential commodities are those goods whose supply the government ensures to maintain the normal life of the citizenry. Under the Essential Commodities Act, the government can regulate the production, supply, and distribution of any product that comes under the list. This is a measure to prevent hoarding, black-marketing, and price-gouging which would harm consumers. The removal of this range of food items from the list has caused a stir, particularly against the backdrop of the government banning the export of onions and passing controversial farm reforms in Parliament.

Parliament passes the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

This bill will create a positive environment not only for farmers but also for consumers and investors: Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao@PIB_India@MIB_India@MOFPI_GOI

Details :https://t.co/WJbcVWKKNx

— PIB in Manipur (@PIBImphal) September 22, 2020

The official position of the government is that the bill will have a positive impact for farmers as well as consumers. Danve Raosaheb Dadarao, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said that the bill “will create a positive environment not only for farmers but also for consumers and investors.”

Good news for Reliance Fresh and Adani Wilmar. #Beimaan_Modi_Sarkar removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions & potatoes from list of essential commodities.
Now hoarding & profiteering will be legal. Cronies will decide your food prices.

#KisanBachaoYuvaBachao pic.twitter.com/vdMekihxtj

— Geet V (@geetv79) September 22, 2020

But others have seen it as a move toward crony capitalism, with the biggest beneficiaries of these new laws being large corporates, who will have the freedom to buy agricultural produce from farmers at a low price before selling to consumers at a high profit.

Yeah gaumatra and gobar should be included in the list of essential commodities. https://t.co/S6HU3U7yyQ

— Anandita🏳️‍🌈 (@devilsxblessing) September 22, 2020

Others wondered about what other items the government would replace daily staples like onion and potatoes on the essential commodities list with.

Onions are now removed from Essential Commodities List by Modi Govt

Now Reliance Fresh & Adani-Wilmar can buy Onions at cheapest price, hoard (without limit) & sell/export at a price that’s very profitable

But when Farmers wanted to make profit, Modi bans exports! Very fair no?

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 22, 2020

Gandhiji popularised the hunger strike as a means of protesting an unjust government, but this latest amendment to the Essential Commodities Act is the first time a government might be making food unavailable to its populace.