NEW DELHI: Punjab farmers’ organizations boycotted a meeting called by the Union Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday to resolve their concerns about the new farm laws and accused the government of playing double standards with no minister present to listen to them.
Representatives of 29 farmers’ organizations, including the one led by Joginder Singh Union Bharati Kissan, were annoyed by the absence of the Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar and the Minister of State for Agriculture at the meeting.
The meeting was called in Krishi Bhavan amid police security to avoid any protests. After the meeting, agitated farmer representatives were seen shouting slogans and tearing up copies of the new agricultural laws outside of Krishi Bhavan.
More than 30 representatives, who had arrived on a bus, were mostly seniors, but had not even worn masks despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There was no proper discussion held. Neither the Union agriculture minister nor the junior ministers were present to hear our concerns. We asked why the minister is not meeting with us, why is the government playing with a double standard calling us here and ministers holding virtual meetings in Punjab. There was no adequate response, “Darshan Pal, a member of the coordinating committee of 29 farmers’ organizations, told PTI after the meeting.
As there was no response from the Secretary of Agriculture, Sanjay Agrawal, who was chairing the meeting, the farmers’ organizations decided to boycott the meeting, he said.
“BJP leaders are holding virtual meetings in Punjab and speaking out against us. We are called to Delhi and no minister wants to listen to us,” Pal, who also leads the Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab, he added.
Harjinder Singh from Ajad Kisan Sangathana said: “The secretary of agriculture had invited us to receive our comments on the new agricultural laws. We thought that the minister of agriculture would be there, but only the secretary was present.”
The secretary tried to explain that the new laws are good and will pay off in the future, he said.
“We knew that the secretary had no authority and there is no point in discussing it with him. We decided to boycott.
President of the State of the Union of Bharati Kissan Joginder singh A representative made before the government has demanded the repeal of recent agricultural laws, legally ensure the minimum price of support (MSP) for crops, implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, among others.
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and other states are protesting against the new farm laws that they believe will lead to corporate takeovers and the end of the MSP.
Meanwhile, central ministers are reaching out to farmers, scientists and agricultural professionals in Congress-ruled Punjab to clear up doubts about the new farm laws.
.
