Updated: October 12, 2020 7:43:52 am
The invitation came by email to the heads of 29 farmers’ unions.
On Sunday, the Center extended an invitation, for the second time in five days, to Punjab farmers’ unions, which have been protesting against new farm laws, for holding talks on the issue on October 14. However, the unions said they need some clarification and added that a decision on whether to accept the invitation will be made at a meeting on October 13.
“We have received an invitation for a meeting on October 14. Although the invitation came from the secretary of agriculture of the Union, it mentions that the central government wants to speak with the farmers. Farmers unions will decide whether to go to Delhi for the talks at a meeting scheduled for October 13, “said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda).
Read | Behind the uproar, fear of losing the livelihood of Punjab’s socio-economic fiber
Sanjay Agarwal, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Agricultural Welfare of the Union government, sent emails to the leaders of the 29 of the 30 agricultural unions in protest inviting them to a talk on the three agricultural laws.
Underlining that Punjab farmers have been protesting for the past few days over agriculture-related issues, the letter says: “The Indian government always takes agriculture seriously. This is the reason why the Government of the Center wishes to speak with you. “
“Please attend the meeting on October 14, 2020 at 11:30 am in room 142, Krishi Mantralaya, New Delhi to discuss these issues,” the letter adds.
The new invitation comes days after the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, an umbrella body under which protesting agricultural unions have joined, rejected a similar letter from Agarwal on October 7 inviting agricultural leaders to Delhi for talks on the day. following. Agarwal’s letter mentioned that the Government of India had undertaken agricultural marketing reforms to provide more options for farmers to obtain higher prices for agricultural products. These reforms will provide better avenues of marketing for farmers’ products. The letter adds that the department would host a conference where Agarwal and his team would address the concerns of farmers’ organizations regarding the impact and implementation of these landmark reforms.
Read | Amid farmer protests, Center orders ‘immediate’ purchase of rice in Haryana, Punjab
The unions declined to be part of the conference saying that they will not speak to an official, but are ready for a meeting if a suitable invitation comes from the Union agriculture minister or prime minister.
Speaking about the new invitation, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, President of BKU (Ugrahan), said: “We need to know who will hold discussions with us at this meeting, what is the meeting agenda. Only then will we decide whether to go or not. Our unions will collectively accept a call on this. “
Patiala added that the joint meeting of the 29 unions on October 13 is likely to be held in Chandigarh. “If we decide to go, we will advance from Chandigarh. We have asked the Secretary of Agriculture to clarify some doubts. We hope you come back on Monday. Consequently, we will decide on October 13 ”, he added.
Meanwhile, Jagnohan Singh said that 30 farmers’ unions had come together to form the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and not 31 as they had initially claimed. “The name of a union was typed twice by mistake,” he said.
“We had not sent the name of BKU (Lakhowal) to the officials. BKU (Lakhowal) had moved the Supreme Court on its own in defiance of the three core laws without consulting us. Therefore, we have suspended that union from our group for the time being. We have told the head of BKU (Lakhowal) that he can be part of the common platform only when he presents a letter from the higher court indicating that the petition has been withdrawn. Although the president of BKU (Lakhowal), Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, has announced that he has withdrawn the petition, he has not produced any written documents to support his claims, ”added Jagmohan.
Sunday was the 11th day of indefinite protests by farmers in Punjab over farm laws. They also have roko rail guards in 33 places. Farmers will get a call on laid-back rail roko on October 15. The farmers argued that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has sufficient supplies of coal and can buy cheap power from the national grid. Therefore, they should not put pressure on farmers. They also stated that they do not need diammonium phosphate (DAP) for the next three weeks. Therefore, this was also undue pressure for the roko lift rail.
Surjit Kumar Jyani, chairman of the BJP panel formed to speak to farmers and ahrtiyas, said: “The government takes farmers seriously and is eager to talk to them. When the letter says that Center is willing to speak, it indicates that someone from the government (minister) will speak with them. We are hopeful that farmers’ problems will be solved soon. “
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