Farmers’ unions reject Govt’s offer to put farm laws on hold, insist on repeal; next talks date not fixed as rift widens
Two days after the Government offered to keep in abeyance the three farm laws, the rift widened between the Government and farmer’s unions on Friday.
In the 11th round of meeting, farmer unions rejected the Government’s offer and insisted on complete repeal of the three laws. Both sides hardened their stands and could not even reach a decision on the date of the next meeting.
In the very beginning of the meeting, farmer leaders said that they have decided to reject the proposal to put off farm laws for 18 months.
Hardening its stand, the Government asked farmers’ unions that the next round of talks will only continue if they agree to accept the proposal by Saturday. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Centre has asked farmers to consider its proposal on the temporary suspension of the implementation of the farm laws.
The Minister added that the next meeting would be scheduled only after farmers’ unions come back with a response. He blamed external “forces” for their rigid stand and said no resolution is possible when the sanctity of agitation is lost.
Meanwhile, farmer leaders alleged even as the meeting lasted for nearly five hours, the two sides sat face to face for less than 20-25 minutes and for the rest of the time, they were in a separate rooms. Farmers’ leaders said they felt “insulted” by the manner in which the Ministers treated them.
“The Minister made us wait for three and a half hours. This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the Government’s proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings,” said SS Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
At the meeting, the Union Ministers told farmers’ unions that they have been given all possible options and they must discuss internally the proposal of suspending the laws. Sources said the Ministers were not happy with the farmers’ decision to go ahead with their plan to hold tractor rally on Republic Day in Delhi.
“The Government has given the best, solution-oriented proposal to farmer organisations. We asked them to reconsider our proposal as it is in the interest of farmers and the country. Talks remained inconclusive as farmers’ welfare was not at the heart of talks from the unions’ side. I am sad about it. Farmers’ unions said that they only want the repeal of the laws despite the Government asking for alternatives. We should remain hopeful. We asked them to convey their decision tomorrow (Saturday). Let’s wait to hear farmer unions’ final decision,” Tomar said after the meeting.
Taking a hardline position, the Minister said some external force was definitely trying to ensure that the agitation continues and those were obviously against the interests of farmers.
“The Government gave many proposals to end the protest, but no resolution is possible when the sanctity of an agitation is lost,” he said.
Asked whether he expects farmers to agree to the Government offer, he said, “I don’t want to speculate, but we are hopeful that farmer unions will consider our proposal positively.” On whether he saw any division among the union leaders on the Government proposal, Tomar did not give a direct reply but said, “We thanked all farmer leaders, including those who support our proposal and those who are against it.”
During the meeting, farmers alleged the Delhi Police is trying to harass their leaders. One of the union leaders alleged that the rear windshield of his car was smashed by the Delhi Police. The car belongs to one Ruldu Singh Mansa. Darhsan Pal one of its leaders received a threatening phone call while Hannan Mollah was manhandled by police. As the 11th round of talks remained inconclusive, farmer leaders have threatened to intensify their protest.
The break, during which farmer leaders had their langar (community kitchen) food, lasted for more than three hours. The break also saw 41 farmer leaders holding consultations among themselves, at times in smaller groups, while the three Union Ministers waited in a separate room at Vigyan Bhawan.
Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka who was the first to leave the talks said there was no headway in the discussions and the Government asked unions to deliberate on its proposal again. After the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the discussions have broken down as the unions rejected the Government’s proposal.
Harpal Singh, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union Asli Arajnaitik, said, “Even if we accept the Government’s offer, our fellow brothers sitting at Delhi borders will not accept anything other than a repeal of the laws. They will not spare us. What achievement will we show to them?” He also questioned the Government’s credibility, alleging it was difficult to believe that they will keep their word on putting the laws on hold for 18 months.
Saturday, 23 January 2021 | Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
