The Centre’s decision to exclude agricultural tractors from the category of ‘non-transport vehicles’ will have “severe implications” on the already distressed farmers of the country, said Swaraj India, a party founded by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, after breaking away from the Aam Aadmi Party.

In a memorandum submitted to the Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadakri, the party has demanded more time for submission of objections on the draft rule that the government has issued.

“If this move is implemented, farmers will need to be at least class 8th pass to be eligible for a licence to drive the tractor. Is the government even aware of the literacy rate prevalent among the farmers of our country,” Yadav said in a release.

Terming the move as unnecessary, party spokesperson Rajeev Gidara said there already existed a clear distinction between tractors being used for agricultural purposes and the ones that are being used for non-agriculture purposes.

He said including agricultural tractors in the category of commercial vehicles would increase their cost as the goods and services tax (GST) levied on tractors will increase from the present 12 per cent to 28 per cent, and they would be subjected to increased tolls.

“Once agriculture tractor is considered as a 'transport vehicle', it will require a permit to ply, this will be an additional burden on the pockets of the farmers, and the government has been completely insensitive towards such implications,” Jai Kisan Andolan convenor Avik Saha said.

Swaraj India also criticised the government for not circulating or publishing the notification among the agriculturist community through different modes of publication, but for publishing it in a gazette.

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