NEW DELHI: As the clash between the government and protest groups continues farmers on three new agricultural laws, the minister of agriculture Narendra singh Take on Tuesday said the acts have been welcomed in various states across the country, but the Center is willing to continue its conversations with “genuine agricultural unions” to find a solution with an open mind.
He also said that the Minimum Subsistence Price (MSP), at which the government agrees to purchase the produce from farmers, is an administrative decision and “will continue as is.”
Tomar’s comments followed a meeting with members of the Bharatiya Kisan (Kisan) Union from Uttar Pradesh, who presented a memorandum to the minister with suggestions on the Farm Laws and the MSP.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) has also decided for now to end its protest, which was taking place at the district level in Uttar Pradesh. They have not been part of the nearly 40 peasant groups that have been protesting on various borders of the national capital and had attended recent rounds of talks with the Center without any progress.
According to the ministry statement, Tomar thanked the BKU (Kisan) leaders for supporting the Agricultural Laws and said that these laws have been well received in various states across the country.
“He (Tomar) further added that the government is willing to continue dialogue with genuine agricultural unions and is willing to find a solution with an open mind,” the statement said.
BKU (Kisan) leaders suggested that farmers have the option of going to civil courts in case of dispute. They also suggested that the head of the Panchayat should be given the same importance as the head of the mandi to safeguard the rights of farmers in small towns and villages.
In the case of the Essential Commodities Act, they suggested that you should avoid hoarding and black marketing.
Union leaders also suggested that electricity rates for irrigation should be lowered and that electricity should be available for longer hours in Uttar Pradesh.
They also proposed that the standards for crops be decided at the supply centers so that farmers do not face any problem in selling the product.
After the meeting, the president of BKU (Kisan) Pawan Thakur he told reporters: “The minister explained the laws in detail and we realized that the laws are really good. We had some doubts, he clarified them all … The minister said he will study our demands.”
He also said that the union stopped its protest for the time being in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
“If our demands are not met, we will protest again,” he added.
“The minister listened carefully to our key amendments. He said the government is already discussing these issues. We suggest six issues to make the laws more effective. We are happy with the talks with the minister. We believe the government is working positively,” he added. said Acharya Ram Gopala Dixit, a sponsor of BKU (Kisan) since 2009.
According to a memorandum previously given by union members, they pushed for separate legislation to ensure guaranteed MSP for crops, saying the middleman buys crops at a lower rate from farmers and sells them to the government at MSP.
“We want a law on MSP so that non-mandi crops cannot be sold below that rate. Farmers incurred losses this kharif season as they were forced to sell below the MSP. If our demand is accepted , we are ready to support the laws. “We do not know at what rate the crops will be sold. Ideally, our crops should sell above MSP but are sold below that rate, “Thakur had said before his meeting with Tomar.
Tomar and some other ministers, including Rajnath singh They have met with various farmers’ unions in recent days who have extended their support for the new laws.
However, several other farmers’ unions, particularly those of Punjab and Haryana, continue to protest for more than two weeks against the three farm laws, saying the new legislation will lead to the dismantling of the MSP and mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of the companies.
Some ministers have also said that some anti-social and Maoist elements are misusing the farmers’ protest platform to promote their own agenda.
Speaking in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said separately that “a conspiracy is brewing to confuse farmers who have gathered near Delhi today.”
The Center announces MSP for more than 20 Kharif and Rabi crops. It mainly purchases wheat and rice to comply with the commitments made under the National Food Security Law and to create reserve reserves.
The government, under the food law, provides 5 kg of wheat or rice per person per month at Rs 2-3 per kg to more than 80 crore people through ration shops. Lately, the Center also purchases legumes and oilseeds under different schemes, such as the Price Stabilization Fund.
In its proposal to farmers on Wednesday of last week, the Center had said it would give a written guarantee that the MSP system will remain and will also address its other key concerns. The unions, however, demand the total repeal of the central laws and have threatened to intensify their agitation.
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