Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday requested farmers to end their protest against the new Central laws, offering talks next week, even as the police continued to fire tear gas and water cannons in a second day of clashes over the march to New Delhi.
“The Government has always been ready to discuss issues with farmers. We have invited farmers’ organisations for another round of talks on December 3. I appeal to them to leave agitation in view of Covid-19 and winter,” Tomar said. On the other hand, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh- affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has urged the Centre to resolve issues being raised by farmers regarding the three agriculture laws through dialogue and also urged the farmers to not become victim of ploys by political parties.
BKS leaders warned the NDA Government that if the issues are not addressed at the earliest, the agitation could be hijacked by Opposition parties. The leaders said they are against any use of force or violence by police.
Mohini Mohan Mishra, national secretary of BKS, said nearly 25,000 farmers had sent proposals to the Prime Minister. “The laws have been made for traders saying they’ll eventually benefit farmers. If the Government has brought laws to support farmers, we welcome it. However, there are drawbacks,” said Mishra adding that they are against any kind of force or violence by police.
“This isn’t right. We are against violence. The Government should initiate dialogue and farmer organisations should leave politics and violence. These movements by farmers are taking place where mandis dominate,” Mishra said. He said counter bills by States like Punjab and Rajasthan are more damaging to farmers and Punjab Bill recommends tax inside and outside mandi. “We will have a meeting if our representatives across the country in the first week of January to finalise our strategy. Farmers should be non-political,” he said.
Saturday, 28 November 2020 | PNS | New Delhi
