As thousands of farmers continue to agitate against laws enacted by the government earlier this year, agricultural union leaders and the government will meet for the fifth round of talks on Saturday to bring a solution to the deadlock in new legislation. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal and State Minister for Trade and Industry Som Parkash, who will be present at the meeting, will deliberate on the points that the farmer leaders have raised and will offer possible solutions.
Here is the deadlock of the Center-farmers explained in 10 points
1. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have gathered in and around Delhi to protest against the three agricultural laws: the Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, the Agreement on Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) on the Agricultural Prices and Services Guarantee Act, 2020, and the Essential Products (Amendment) Act, 2020, promulgated by the Center during the monsoon session of Parliament earlier this year.
2. The protesting farmers have expressed their fear that the new laws are “anti-farmer” and would pave the way for the dismantling of the MSP system, leaving them at the “mercy” of large corporations.
Follow the latest updates on the farmers’ protest here
3. The government, however, argues that the new laws will provide better opportunities for farmers and usher in new technologies in agriculture.
4. During Thursday’s fourth round of discussions, the government said it spoke about some amendments to controversial farm laws. Union agriculture minister Tomar assured 40 farmers’ union leaders that the government has no ego and that it is discussing the issues raised by farmers with an open mind. “The government will discuss the points that came up in Friday’s meeting and hopes that the talks will move towards a finality when the next round of discussions takes place on Saturday,” he added.
5. Tomar also told farmers union leaders that the government is open to considering ways to strengthen APMC mandis, create a level playing field with the proposed private markets, and provide a provision to go to the higher courts for resolution. of disputes while stating that acquisitions at a minimum support price (MSP) will continue.
6. Peasant leaders, however, continued to demand that the three “hastily passed” agricultural laws be repealed. They said that legislation with various gaps and deficiencies cannot be changed.
7. As the farmers’ protest enters on the 9th, Delhi’s border points are still suffocated by thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and other states holding demonstrations.
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8. Meanwhile, the leader of the Bharatiya Kisan union, Rakesh Tikait, has threatened that the farmers’ agitation would escalate if the government does not comply with the demands. “The government and farmers did not reach any decisions during the meeting on Thursday. The government wants to make amendments to all three laws, but we want the laws to be completely repealed. If the government does not agree to our demands, we will continue to protest. We are looking to find out what happens at the meeting on Saturday, ”said Tikait.
9. The protesting farmers have called for a national strike, or Bharat Bandh, on December 8, where they said they will block all toll plazas and roads leading to the national capital if their demands are not met.
10. All eyes are now on Saturday’s meeting that is likely to decide whether the peasant leaders will accept the solutions offered by the government and end the protest or go ahead with their Bharat Bandh.
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