Farmers have been protesting against the three central government agricultural reforms for the past 15 days. Several rounds of talks have taken place between leaders of farmers’ groups and union ministers, but they have not reached a logical conclusion. The sixth round of talks that were supposed to take place on Wednesday was canceled, but the two sides maintained that they were open to dialogue.
The leaders also rejected the Center’s proposal to amend the new reforms, adding that they would intensify their protest by blocking the Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Agra highways by Saturday, and escalating further to a nationwide protest on December 14.
Here are the latest updates on the ongoing agricultural movement:
1. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met with Interior Minister Amit Shah to discuss the next course of action after representatives of farmer groups rejected the Center’s proposal to amend the new agricultural reforms, according to the PTI news agency. The Center offered to amend 7-8 issues, including the provision of a minimum support price policy (MSP) written guarantee.
2. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called on the government led by Narendra Modi to “stop playing games” with farmers and withdraw the laws “immediately and unconditionally”. Former BJP ally, SAD added that the Center’s proposals to amend the three laws were nothing more than delaying and diversionary tactics and tricks that farmers have rightly rejected.
3. Leaders of opposition parties met with President Ramnath Kovind on Wednesday and sought the removal of the farm laws. The five-member delegation consisted of the head of the PCN, Sharad Pawar, the leader of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, the secretary general of the CPI, D Raja, the general secretary of the CPI (M), Sitaram Yechury, and TKS Elangovan of the DMK . Rahul Gandhi after the meeting said that the laws were passed without any discussion or conversation with the opposition parties or with the farmers, adding that the farmers would not give in and would continue their protests until the laws are repealed.
Four. The Minister of State of the Union for Food and Public Distribution, Raosaheb Danve, said that the current agitation against the reforms was backed by China and Pakistan. “The agitation of farmers that is taking place in Delhi is not that of farmers. The central government is willing to spend for the benefit of our farmers. Countries like China and Pakistan have a hand behind these protests, ”Danve said while addressing a meeting.
5. The head of the Haryana Congress, Kumari Selja, and the Indian national leader Lok Dal (INLD), Abhay Singh Chautala, met with farmers protesting at the Tikri border on Wednesday and said the whole country stands with them against the new reforms of the Center. Selja, who was a former Union minister, alleged that the BJP government did not listen to the voice of the opposition or the peasants and “imposed these black laws on the peasants.”
6. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government was sensitive to farmers’ concerns and expressed hope that ongoing discussions with them, which he called “work in progress”, will yield results soon. . He added that several rounds of talks were held with farmers about the reforms and the Center was eager to solve their problems.
(With contributions from the agency)
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