November 29, 2020 4:35:30 am
Farmers on the Delhi border in Singhu on Saturday. (Express photo: Praveen Khanna)
WITH RISING PRESSURE from farmers camped on the borders of Delhi, a key ally in the government in Haryana and opposition parties, Union Interior Minister Amit Shah on Saturday signaled a weakening of the stance of Hardline of the Center by offering to hold talks as soon as the protesters move to a designated site Burari on the outskirts of the capital.
The offer sparked a cautious response from farmers, seeking the repeal of recently enacted farm laws and the Center’s guarantees of the MSP regime and the mandi system. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, chairman of BKU (Ugrahan) leading the protests from Punjab, insisted they wanted to target Jantar Mantar, but said a decision on Shah’s appeal would be made on Sunday.
But the interior minister’s move was supported by Punjab’s chief minister, Amarinder Singh. Welcoming the move, the congressional leader urged farmers to “accept” the offer and even offered to mediate.
“Some farmers and farmers unions are demanding that the talks take place soon instead of December 3. So I assure everyone that as soon as you move to the land of Burari, the Government is ready to talk with you the next day. “Shah said. in a sentence.
“Over the past few days, farmers from Punjab and Haryana and some other parts of the country have reached the Delhi border. For this reason, farmers have gathered on the two main roads that connect Punjab near the border with Delhi since yesterday, ”he said.
“Farmers also face many problems due to the severe cold, just as travelers also face problems. Therefore, I humbly appeal to the farmer brothers so that the government has made a suitable arrangement for you in Burari, where you can hold protests, ”said the Interior Minister.
“The government has arranged for water, toilets and medical care, so that farmers do not have problems. The police will also be given permission to protest democratically and peacefully in this area, ”Shah said.
The Interior Minister also spoke with some farmer leaders, including Joginder Singh Ugrahan. “He urged us not to seal the borders of Delhi and instead go to Burari. We understand that blocking the borders is causing inconvenience to people, but we are not ready to move to Burari. The Minister of the Interior should allow us to protest in Jantar Mantar, which is where everyone protests … why can’t we do the same? ”. Singh told The Indian Express.
Swaraj India founder Yogendra Yadav, who is part of the seven-member Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the coordinating body for more than three dozen farmers’ organizations, said: “All organizations coming from Punjab will hold a meeting … Afterwards, Samyukt Kisan Morcha will hold another meeting and take one last call. We will announce our decision on Sunday morning. “
Shah’s offer came after the JJP, which is the BJP’s key ally in Haryana, urged the Center to hold talks immediately instead of waiting until December 3. “… The talks should be held today by calling all farmers’ organizations and your doubts should be clarified. And all the farmers’ problems must be solved, ”said Digvijay Chautala, younger brother of Senior Deputy Minister Dushyant Chautala.
“The episode that we saw during the last two days through the television channels has caused pain in the hearts of almost all the citizens of Hindustan,” he said.
In a statement, Amarinder Singh said: “Only by sitting across the table can both parties come to a solution to the problem. Farmers had already won half the battle by bringing the Union government to the negotiating table without further delay … My government and I are prepared to give our full support to these negotiations and we are ready to mediate interest collective of all “.
Until Saturday, the farmers remained on the borders of Delhi despite being granted permission by the police to move their protest to the Nirankari farm in Burari. In addition to the Singhu and Tikri border points, where Punjab farmers have gathered, the protesters reached the Ghazipur border with UP in the afternoon.
In his statement, Shah said that detailed discussions on farmers’ problems took place on November 13. “I appeal to farmers that the Government has invited a delegation of farmers for detailed talks on their problems on December 3 in Delhi,” he said. said.
The Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, also reiterated that the Government is willing to hold talks. Expressing hope that farmers’ representatives will join the discussion on December 3, he said that a way will be found through dialogue.
Meanwhile, eight opposition parties issued a joint statement calling on the Center to address the “concerns” of protesting farmers. However, the main Congress of the Opposition was not among the eight. In addition to the head of the NCP, Sharad Pawar, TR Baalu of DMK, the general secretary of the CPM, Sitaram Yechury, and D Raja of the CPI, they included leaders of RJD, CPI (ML), RSP and Forward Bloc.
Tomar, however, criticized the Opposition for “doing politics on behalf of the farmers.” “If they want to do politics, they should do it in their own name, there should be no politics on behalf of farmers,” he said.
With Manoj CG in New Delhi
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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