NEW DELHI: The farmers Agitating against the three new agricultural laws, it rejected on Wednesday the government’s offer of a “written guarantee” that the existing minimum support price (MSP) for the acquisition of crops would continue. They have said the unrest would intensify and have called for a nationwide protest on December 14.
Meanwhile, a five-member delegation of opposition leaders met with the president Ram Nath Kovind today and sought the repeal of the new farm laws.
Here are the 10 key developments of the day:
1. As thousands of farmers continue to protest at various borders in the national capital demanding the repeal of three new agricultural laws, the government proposed to give a “written guarantee” that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for acquisitions will continue. He also proposed making the necessary modifications on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.
2. Peasant leaders rejected the government’s proposal and announced that they would intensify their agitation by blocking the Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Agra highways by Saturday. They also threatened to escalate the unrest at a national protest on December 14. At a press conference, peasant leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said there was nothing new in the government’s proposal and that it was “completely rejected” by the “Sanyukta Kisan Committee”. at their meeting on Wednesday. Farmers union leaders called the proposal an “insult” to the country’s farmers. However, they said that if the government sends a new proposal for talks, they can consider it.
3. A delegation of opposition leaders met with President Ram Nath Kovind and sought the repeal of the three agricultural laws. The five-member delegation was made up of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, head of the PCN Sharad Pawar, CPM Secretary General Sitaram Yechury, CPI Secretary General D Raja, and DMK Leader TKS Elangovan. “We met with the president and informed him of our opinion on the three agricultural laws. We have asked for their repeal. We informed the president that it is essential that they withdraw,” Gandhi told reporters after the meeting.
Four. The sixth round of talks between the government and agricultural union leaders, scheduled for Wednesday morning, was canceled. According to union leaders, a new call ‘Delhi chalo’ (march to Delhi) is being given to all farmers in northern India by December 14, while those in the south will be asked to protest at the district headquarters . It is unclear when the next round of talks will take place.
5. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met with Interior Minister Amit Shah to discuss the next course of action after farmer leaders rejected the Center’s draft proposal, sources said. The sources said the agriculture minister is believed to have discussed with the interior minister a possible way to end the stalemate after agricultural unions rejected the government’s draft proposal. The Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal was also present at the meeting.
6. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a former ally of the BJP-led NDA, called on the Center to “stop playing games” with innocent farmers and withdraw the three agricultural laws “immediately and unconditionally”. SAD, which had withdrawn from the NDA after the farm laws were enacted, also supported farmers’ rejection of the center’s proposal on these laws.
7. The director of the Punjab BJP, Ashwani Sharma, called the farmers’ decision to reject the center’s proposal to modify the new agricultural laws as “unfortunate”. He urged protesting farmers to review their decision. “It was a shame that the farmer leaders rejected the proposed amendments to all three agriculture bills,” Sharma said in a statement.
8. The AAP alleged that Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s movement is still “restricted” and the main door of his residence remains locked by Delhi police, who denied the charge. The AAP, which on Tuesday had alleged that Delhi police placed Kejriwal under house arrest after he met with farmers protesting against the Center’s agricultural reform laws on the city’s border with Singhu, again claimed that he was was doing at the urging of Amit Shah. Delhi police had rejected AAP’s accusation as “totally unfounded”.
9. Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja and Indian National Lok Dal Leader Abhay Singh Chautala separately met with protesting farmers on the Tikri border and said the entire country supports them.
10. Peasant leaders have said they will reject BJP ministers, party district offices and boycott their leaders on December 14. They said that all toll plazas across the country will be free on December 12.
(With inputs from agencies)
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