As the farmer agitation intensifies, experts and activists view the new agricultural legislations as leading to privatisation of the sector and some say it is reverting to the pre-1965 days. Avik Saha, Organising Secretary, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said the enormity of the issue is that it threatens the food security of 135 crore Indians and the income security of 70 per cent of the population connected with agriculture. AIKSCC has demanded that the government rescind the laws and minimum support price (MSP) be legislated as a guarantee.

In the interim, their demand is that the three Bills not be sent to the President for assent. MSP should be mandated like minimum retail price (MRP) across the country so that farmers have recourse in case of non-compliance, said Saha. So, the demand is to make MSP into a law like MRP. Farmers say that if MSP and 'mandis' go the diesel and petrol way, it will wreak havoc with retail prices and also lead to creation of monopolies. They allege that the diesel and petrol costs and electricity charges by the BJP-led NDA government has directly increased cost of living drastically. Taxes on fuel have been raised by more than Rs 11 litre during Covid period and the new Power Bill, 2020 intends to withdraw all subsidies and charge all common consumers at Rs 10.20 per unit.