NEW DELHI: Responding to turmoil agricultural unions” proposed talks on a four-point agenda, the Center on Monday he invited them to a debate on all the issues on December 30, saying he was committed to finding “logical solutions” to the relevant issues that could be acceptable to all.
Although the group of 40 unions considered the content of the invitation “vague”, saying that the Center was being “clever with words” and that its letter did not include the full agenda, “unanimously” they decided to resume the talks that had been interrupted. . on December 9 following the government’s proposal to amend, and not repeal, the three thorny agricultural laws.
“In the context of your proposal, a detailed discussion will take place on issues related to three agricultural laws, procurement mechanism at the minimum support price (MSP), Air Quality Management Ordinance in NCR and Adjacent Areas, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill of 2000, ”said the secretary of agriculture. Sanjay agrawal in his letter, even as minister of agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar He expressed his confidence that the new agricultural laws will be implemented and that the government will be able to explain their benefits.
However, the short letter to the group of 40 unions does not go into the specifics of the protests against the farmers’ agenda, such as the “modalities to repeal” the three agricultural laws and the mechanism to ensure a larger “legally guaranteed” EMP. , prompting unions to join the group before formally announcing their acceptance of the talks offer.
“Although we have certain reservations, we have unanimously decided to join the talks on Wednesday. Farmers’ unions will formally announce acceptance on Tuesday, ”said a union leader after the meeting on the government’s offer.
The unions in their proposal for dialogue had asked the government on December 26 to include four specific items on the agenda as a condition for moving forward with the next round of talks.
They wanted the three farm laws to be repealed, a mechanism for a higher MSP, keeping farmers out of the sanctions provision on stubble burning, and changes to the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill to protect the interests of farmers. farmers to be included, in that order, as conditions for the talks.
Although the letter from the agriculture secretary, the fourth from the Center, on Monday did not go into details, it did refer to these issues while urging agricultural unions to join the talks with a Group of Ministers at 2 pm in Vigyan bhawan on December 30 to find acceptable solutions. Tomar will lead the government side during the talks.
“You reported (on December 26) that farmers unions have always been ready and will be ready for open-minded conversations. The Government of India is also committed to an open mind and a clear intention to find logical solutions to relevant problems, ”said Agrawal.
Expressing its reservations, the coordinating body of the farmers ‘groups, AIKSCC, said on Monday: “The government’s letter indicates that it is being clever with words and is not willing to discuss the agenda proposed by the farmers’ organizations … answer is woefully short of any attempts to solve problems. While farmers want meetings on four specific items on the agenda, the government has used vague and unspecific language. ”
Meanwhile, Tomar, addressing representatives of 11 farmers’ organizations that have supported farm laws, said: “I am confident that with your support, positive attitude and understanding, these laws will be implemented and we will be able to explain (their benefits) to farmers. . A new road will be created and Indian agriculture will prosper. ”
He said the government was also discussing the problems with protesting farmers. “We are making efforts to find solutions to these problems after the discussion,” Tomar said.
Speaking in the same function, the minister of state for agriculture, Kailash Choudhary, referring to upcoming talks with protesting farmers’ unions, he said: “I hope this is the final round of talks and the problem is resolved.”
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