December 2, 2020 5:18:31 am
Peasant leaders with cabinet ministers at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: Tashi Tobgyal)
Moving to resolve the standoff with farmers protesting on the doorstep of Delhi against the recently enacted farm laws, the Center opened talks on Tuesday with farmer representatives who, while disagreed with its suggestion to form a committee to examine their demands, they agreed to continue the dialogue.
After the three and a half hour meeting at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who led the talks with farmers, told reporters: “The meeting was good and we have decided hold the next round of talks on December 3. We wanted a small group to be formed, but the peasant leaders wanted the talks to take place with everyone. We have no problem with that. “
Tomar, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal and Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Som Prakash spoke with representatives of 35 farmers’ unions who have been camping for the past six days on the borders of Delhi.
Later, Tomar also met with agricultural leaders from the western UP, including BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, in Krishi Bhavan. These farmer leaders were not present at the Vigyan Bhawan meeting.
“Tikait from BKU called me. They also work for farmers … They came here and discussed issues related to laws and other needs of the agricultural sector. We asked that you give us your problems in writing. We will also consider them, ”Tomar said.
After the meeting in Vigyan Bhavan, the farmer leaders expressed the hope that their demands would be considered and the problems would be resolved soon. The Ministry of Agriculture, in a statement, said: “Various issues related to the Agricultural Reform Laws were discussed in depth and the talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
“During the deliberations, the Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Welfare of the Union proposed the constitution of a committee of experts to raise the problems of farmers in order to solve them by mutual agreement, but the representative of the Union of Farmers suggested that all representatives will attend a new round of talks with the government to resolve the matter amicably, “said the Ministry.
It was learned that the ministers conveyed to the union representatives that it would be difficult to hold conversations with 35 people, so they should provide the names of 5 to 10 people with whom they could have conversations. But this was not acceptable to the representatives.
“During the interaction, the Government suggested to the Farmers Union representatives to identify the specific issues related to the Farm Reform Laws and share them with the Government on 12/02/2020 for their consideration. These issues will be discussed during the fourth round of the meeting to be held on 03.12.2020, ”the Ministry said: Two rounds of talks were held before farmers from Punjab and Haryana appeared on the borders of Delhi, and the Tuesday’s talks were the third round.
“It was ensured that the Government of India is always committed to protecting the interests of farmers and is always open to discussions on the welfare of farmers,” the statement said.
Leaving the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Punjab) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh said: “The meeting was good … We told you that there are many provisions in these new bills that are against farmers. … they proposed that a committee be established … the attitude of governments is always to establish committees and commissions, and the deliberations are endless … we flatly reject the proposal. “
“So they (the government) said to give us their objections in writing. We said that we had already submitted a detailed memorandum. But they said give us your specific objections to these three laws, the electricity bill and the pollution ordinance … why are you wrong … give us a reply. They asked us to ship it tomorrow and we will meet again the next day. We said there is no need for a committee, ”he said.
“They said it is possible to find a solution the day after tomorrow, or else we will have to sit down again. We said that we are ready for discussions. Even Parliament works for two months … agriculture is the backbone of the country … we can sit down and argue … but the turmoil will continue … indeed, it will strengthen … until our demands are met ” , said.
Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (Punjab) Secretary General Kulwant Singh Sandhu said: “First, they wanted to talk only to Punjab farmers unions, but we told them that this was a protest across India and that representatives of farmers from all over the country will participate in the talks. They proposed the formation of a committee, we did not agree. We will continue our protest ”.
Major Singh Punnawal, Punjab Secretary General of All India Kisan Sabha, said: “The government asked us to create a small committee, with government representatives as well. We said that creating a committee means putting the issue in a refrigerator. Discussions will take place with everyone and we will all come, but only a few will speak.
Since the Minimum Livelihood Price (MSP) is the main concern of farmers, the government, sources said, could consider making it binding by law, not through an amendment, but through an executive order while framing the rules. for laws.
“It shouldn’t be a problem as both the government and the party are committed to the MSP,” said a BJP leader. “Anyway, the talks mean give and take from both parties. We are sure that the farmers know it too ”, said the leader.
Sources said both the government and the ruling BJP are eager to find a solution, but are not in the mood to withdraw the farm laws.
The government’s position on the laws, which it says benefit farmers, was clarified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat speech last Sunday.
Reassuring farmers about the benefits of farm laws, the Prime Minister said that with the latest reforms in the agricultural sector, farmers have new opportunities. On Monday, at a program in Varanasi, he said the government had no intention of misleading farmers and that the laws provide them with new options and legal protection.
BJP leaders have been attacking opposition parties for “misleading” farmers about the new laws. But the BJP does not want the issue to be delayed because it could damage its image as a party that protects the interests of farmers, among whom it has considerable support. The party also does not want the protests to spread to other states.
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