AMN / WEB DESK
The deadlock between the government and farmers continued and farmers have said they will go ahead with their plans for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8.
The fifth round of talks between protesting farmer leaders and the government failed to break the impasse on Saturday, setting the stage for a show of strength by farmer unions at a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday, followed by the sixth round of talks the next day.
Meeting Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar at the Vigyan Bhavan, farmer leaders refused to budge from their demand of a complete repeal of the three new farm laws. As talks entered the fourth hour, the representative of around 40 farmer unions refused to have any further discussion and resorted to a silent protest. They held up posters and placards with ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ written on them, asking the government to give a clear answer on whether the laws would be repealed.
Tomar, who was accompanied by commerce minister Piyush Goyal and MoS commerce Som Parkash, once again assured the farmers that the minimum support price (MSP) system would not be scrapped and proposed the next meeting on Monday. Farmer leaders, however, cited Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh called by them and proposed to hold the next round of talks on Wednesday.
“The minister said he is going to discuss our demand with the cabinet and needs a day before responding to our demand. Initially, December 7 was proposed for the next round of talks, but we proposed December 9 after the Bharat Bandh,” said All India Kisan Federation leader Kiranjeet Singh Sekhon.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, agriculture minister Tomar again appealed to the farmers to end their protest.
“I want to request protesting farmers to give up their movement so that they don’t face inconvenience in this cold weather and citizens of Delhi can also live a life of convenience,” Tomar said. “Farmers should keep faith in the Narendra Modi government. I want to thank farmer unions for maintaining discipline… We request kisan unions to send elderly and children back home,” he added.
Reacting to the appeal, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan faction head Joginder Singh said, “If the government cares about the health of our kids and elderly, why not send us all home by accepting our demand? Minister says the law can be amended. It is like asking us to have a rotten apple with just the damaged parts thrown out, but the apple itself is unfit to be eaten.”
Mr Tomar said that the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, APMC Act is related to the State and neither it is the intention of the government to affect the mandis in the States, nor are they affected by the law. He said, the Central government is ready to do anything in its power to further strengthen APMC Act and if anyone has any misconception regarding APMCs, then it is absolutely ready to resolve it.
The Agriculture Minister said, they have told the farmers that the government will consider all their aspects. He said, during the meeting, they have requested the farmers’ Unions to send elderly and children back home in wake of Covid-19 situation and cold weather conditions.
The Agriculture Minister reassured the farmers’ Unions that the Narendra Modi government is fully committed to the interest of farmers and will remain so in future. He said, in the last six years, major reforms have been undertaken under the leadership of Mr Modi in the agriculture sector.
He said, several agricultural schemes have been implemented, income of farmers has been increased, agricultural budget and MSP has also been raised. He said, the government is ready to hold talks with the farmers to resolve their issues. He appealed to the protesting farmers to end their protest.
SPECIAL PARLIAMENT SESSION TO AMEND FARM LAWS?
The government is considering convening a special session of parliament to amend parts of the agriculture reform bills which have become a cause célèbre for protesting farmers’ groups and the opposition, sources aware of the ruling dispensation’s thinking told News18. The government, sources said, is willing to accommodate “reasonable demands” of the farmers while not caving in to the street protests by farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana who have blockaded roads to the national capital for 10 days.
The amendments could address three or four crucial demands, including those related to the Minimum Support Price, the price-guarantee scheme that assures farmers that they will get a minimum rate for 22 crops. Other than expanding the basket of crops eligible for MSP support, the government could strengthen this mechanism.
TRADE UNIONS LEND SUPPORT TO ‘BHARAT BANDH’ CALL
A joint platform of 10 central trade unions has extended its support to a call of ‘Bharat Bandh’ by farmer organisations on December 8. The unions had called a nationwide strike on November 26 to protest against recently passed labour codes as well as farm laws, among other issues.
The joint forum comprises Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC), Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).