“The Center has admitted that laws have been made for traders. If agriculture is a state issue, the central government has no right to make laws about it,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal, another leader. Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various border points for almost two weeks seeking the repeal of the new farm laws, which they claim were aimed at benefiting businesses by weakening the mandi system and the support minimum price regime ( MSP) for the acquisition of agricultural products. .
On Wednesday, the government had proposed to give a “written guarantee” that the current MSP regime for acquisitions would continue. However, the farmers’ unions rejected the proposal and said they would intensify their agitation until the government accepts their demand for a complete repeal of the three laws.
The government has also proposed making necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system. “Five rounds of talks have already been held with the government, but they were unfinished. So far, the government has not sent us any invitation for another round of talks. If the government sends us a meeting proposal, we will decide it at our meeting.” Another farmer leader, Shiv Kumar Kakka, told PTI.
When asked about the solution to the current confrontation with the government, Kakka said that “only God knows.” “We are facing many difficulties due to cold weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite this, we will continue our protest until our demands are met,” Kakka added. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh-based farmers’ organization AIKCC, which is not one of 40 unions protesting on the Delhi borders seeking the repeal of farm laws, on Thursday welcomed the government’s gesture to keep dialogue open. with agricultural leaders.
BS Mann, founder of Bhartiya Kisan Union and chair of the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), which represents more than 20 farmers’ organizations at the state level, said the committee’s suggestions made to the government in June for some changes in the three agricultural laws. have been accepted “prima facie”. “The national committee noted that all the suggestions were prima facie accepted by the government, which will lead to an end to this current stalemate,” AIKCC said in a statement.
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