The government is looking for more time to respond; more talks on December 9.
After four hours of discussion with central ministers on the 10th day of their ongoing protests on the Delhi borders, peasant leaders ran out of patience. Refusing to speak anymore, they spent 25 minutes “maun vrat”Or silent protest.
Holding makeshift banners with a brief scrawled message, “Yes or No?”, They demanded that the government declare whether it was willing to repeal the three controversial land reform laws or not.
Peasant leaders hold ‘Yes or No’ cards during their talks with Union ministers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on December 5, 2020. Photo: Special deal
According to peasant leaders at Saturday’s meeting in Vigyan Bhavan, after the protest, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar opted to buy more time to respond to his ultimatum, saying more consultations were needed within the government to present a concrete proposal. The next round of talks is scheduled for December 9, the day after Bharat Bandh’s proposal.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Interior and Defense ministers met with Mr. Tomar and Food and Rail Minister Piyush Goyal, who have been leading the talks. However, no new proposals were presented at the meeting, and both parties simply reiterated their positions.
Underlining the continuing lack of trust, the agricultural leaders again refused to eat the government-provided food in Vigyan Bhavan, preferring to bring a meal from a local langar or community kitchen.
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Saturday’s meeting was the fifth round between the government and agricultural unions since the unrest began in Punjab more than two months ago after the controversial laws were passed by Parliament.
Meanwhile, large groups of farmers from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and representatives from other states joined the tens of thousands of Punjab farmers in the protest at the borders of the national capital.
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Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tomar said he had assured farmers that purchases would continue at minimum support prices and that state mandis would be strengthened, contrary to their fears.
“The government is willing to listen to all farmers’ concerns regarding these laws and make the necessary changes to reassure them,” he said. “We wanted the lead farmers to give some concrete suggestions regarding their concerns, but we couldn’t get that,” he said, adding that suggestions are expected.
“The government kept asking us for specific suggestions on what clauses we want to add, what we want to eliminate. We make it clear that we are not here to discuss any amendments. Our demand has stayed the same from the beginning; we want a complete repeal [of the laws]”Said Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch’s representative, Kavitha Kuruganti.
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Some delegates got so tired of the government’s position that they threatened a strike, but then settled on silent protest.
“We just refused to speak and sat in silence for about 25 minutes. So they came out for their own inquiries, and we had the idea to write ‘Yes or No’ on the covers of our files and we sustained it, ”said Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal.
Mr. Tomar then said that further consultations would be needed to present a concrete proposal, according to Ms. Kuruganti. Although the Center was willing to meet again on December 7, the peasant leaders suggested December 9.
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This will allow farmers to make a show of force through a Bharat Bandh on December 8. Together with their allies, especially trade unions and a national federation of truckers, the farmer groups plan to hold nationwide agitations, seal off the entrance to Delhi and shut down transport in northern India.
Mr. Tomar acknowledged that the unrest had been carried out in a peaceful and disciplined manner, but appealed to agricultural leaders to send the elderly, women and children among the protesters home, in view of the cold weather and the COVID situation.
“This will also benefit the citizens of Delhi,” he said, adding: “I urge farmers to leave the path of protest and follow the path of dialogue.”
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