Ready for talks but Centre must offer ‘concrete solution’
AGENCIES
Farmer leaders today claimed that there is nothing new in the Centre’s latest letter to them seeking a date for the next round of talks.
They however said that they are always ready for dialogue as long as the government is offering a “concrete solution”.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said the government, in its letter, mentioned that it wants to hold talks over its earlier proposal of amendments in the new agri laws.
The sixth round of talks on December 9 was cancelled.
In the letter to 40 union leaders, the Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal on Sunday asked them to specify their concerns over its earlier proposal of amendments in the laws and choose a convenient date for the next round of talks so that the ongoing agitation could end at the earliest.
“There is nothing new in their letter. We have already rejected the government’s proposal to amend the new farm laws. In its letter, the government has asked us to discuss its proposal and convey a date to it for another round of talks.
“Don’t they know our demand? We just want a complete repeal of the new agriculture laws,” another farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said.
In the letter, the Union agriculture joint secretary said the Centre is making all efforts with “an open heart” to find an appropriate solution to resolve all concerns raised by farmers.
Meanwhile Working Group of AIKSCC has sent a detailed reply to the Agriculture Ministers’ letter (signed by Joint Secretary PMKISAN) to the Unions and clearly reiterated that the problem in the laws lies in its objectives where the Corporate will have legal rights to trade in agricultural produce, to engage farmers in contracts and to stock and black-market food which will now be deprived of its Essential Commodity Cover. AIKSCC has said the objectives also say the Govt will promote all this.
“The minister has deliberately twisted facts on the talks and claimed modesty and open mindedness. The facts are that AIKSCC and all others have sent lacs of representations for repeal which the govt has ignored. When the movement reached Delhi the Govt forced farmer leaders to give specific point by point critique of the clauses, in which they unanimously concluded and explained on Dec 3 that the Acts have to be repealed if the land and livelihood of the farmers of India are to be saved. But the Govt picked and chose 8 issues and is now trying to claim that those are the main issues”.
AIKSCC has said the world over Corporate are trying to grab farmland from small owner peasants and water resources for Power Sector, Real Estate and other commercial interests. This is putting farmers in conflict with the MNCs and the govts’ which serve them. Current movement of the farmers is thus receiving wide support internationally also and already people in 82 countries have come out to protest.
AIKSCC is organizing a massive protest at Mumbai tomorrow at the office of Ambani and Adani at Bandra Kurla Complex which shall also be addressed by leaders from Punjab.
AIKSCC has severely criticised the dictatorial language being used by the Prime Minister against the demands of the farmers, saying no one can stop him from implementing reforms. It should be clear to all countrymen that he is talking of reforms which will help profits of Corporate and MNCs and will ruin farmers.
AIKSCC has condemned the severer repression unleashed by BJP govts of Haryana and UP. In Haryana large number of farmers who had shown black flags to him and those organizing protests have been picked up and are in custody. In UP lodging of false cases and arresting of activists continues with the Chief Minister himself doling out threats together with fictitious claims of service to farmers. Paddy continues to sell at Rs 1000 per quintal in UP, despite the MSP being 1868/q.