 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Leaders of farmers unions on Monday reiterated that nothing less than the repeal of Central farm laws will be acceptable to them.
Ahead of the seventh round of talks with the Central government over the issue, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said, "Many issues are to be discussed today. The government must understand, the farmer has taken this movement to his heart and won't consider less than the repeal of these laws. The government should implement Swaminathan's report and make law on MSP."
Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Joint Secretary Sukhwinder S Sabra also threatened to hold a tractor march if the demands of the unions weren't met.
"Our demands are the same as before - repeal the three farm laws and guarantee MSP. If our demands aren't met, then, we will hold tractor march on January 6 and also on January 26," he said.
The meeting between the unions and the Central government is scheduled to take place today.
Despite rains and the ongoing cold wave across North India, farmers agitating against the Centre's farm laws stood strong at the borders of the national capital and continued their protest for the last 39 days.
Protesting farmers who have been camping at Delhi borders for the last 40 days braving bone-chilling cold and now rains have threatened to intensify their protest if their two major demands -- repeal of the three new farm laws and legal backing for the minimum support price -- are not accepted by the government in the January 4 meeting.
After five rounds of inconclusive talks, the government and 40 farmer unions reached some common ground during the sixth round of negotiations on December 30 to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month demanding repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms and aimed at increasing farmers' income, but protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the MSP and mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates.
The government has maintained these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out repealing the laws.
While several opposition parties and people from other walks of life have come out in support of the farmers, some farmer groups have also met Agriculture Minister Tomar over the last few weeks to extend their support for the three laws.