PepsiCo case: Gujarat farmers seek apology and compensation

PepsiCo, the maker of potato wafers under the brand 'Lays' on Friday unconditionally withdrew all cases against farmers of Gujarat. However, farmers stay firm on their stand that they will file a lawsuit, if the company does not voluntarily apologise and compensate them.

Pepsico had filed eight cases against 11 farmers of Gujarat in districts of Sabarkantha, Banaskantha and Aravalli. "The company has withdrawn all cases unconditionally. This is a victory of farmers of entire country," Anand Yagnik, farmers' counsel in Gujarat High Court told media persons in the city. He welcomed Gujarat government's role in the matter but suggested that had the government should also have taken on board representative of farmers. "We hope that during the negotiations with the company, the government has considered farmers' interests as paramount. If the negotiations would have been tripartite, it would have lent more credibility. Inspite of our objections, we are thankful to the government," he said.

ALSO READ: PepsiCo unconditionally withdraws cases against two farmers from Deesa

He said PepsiCo should apologise to the farmers of the country and compensate farmers for all the harassment and damaging their reputation. "We want that as a token, the company pays each farmers one rupee as a compensation," said Yagnik.

ALSO READ: Farmer bodies say Gujarat siding with PepsiCo on potato, warn of protests

Kamlesh Shah, founder of Jatan, a farmers' rights body said that this is for the first time that the farmers had to fight for their right over seeds. "Till now farmers had to fight over land and water. But we had made PepsiCo realise that this is India and not US where it can sue farmers. There the company had made cases worth USD 23 million against farmers.

LAW AMENDMENT FEARED

Farmers interest groups fear that now efforts can be made to amend Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001 removing the section 39 (1)(iv), which grants farmers right to use and sell seeds, giving multinational companies overriding powers over farmer. "This is the age of 'chowki' and all the stakeholders, lawyers, farmers organisations and others against any 'strike' on farmers' fundamental rights," said Kamlesh Shah, founder of Jatan.