Umbrella body of 40 unions Sanyukt Kisan Morcha writes to Centre, insists on repeal of laws
Farmers’ Unions on Saturday wrote a letter to the Centre to resume their dialogue to find a solution to the ongoing deadlock over the three contentious agri laws. The farmers union proposed to hold a meeting with the Government on December 29.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmers’ unions protesting at various Delhi border points against the new agriculture laws. The unions also said that farmers will hold tractor march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on December 30.
Meanwhile, the protesting farmers on Saturday blocked the main Delhi-Mohan Nagar road at UP Gate (Delhi-Ghaziabad border).
In a letter to Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Vivek Aggarwal, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said, “We propose that the next meeting between the farmers’ representatives and the Government of India be held on December 29, 2020 at 11 am.”
“As the Government is willing to hold talks with us and asking us for date and our issues, we have proposed to hold dialogue on December 29. Now, the ball is in the court of Government when it calls us for talks,” Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said.
Addressing a press conference at Singhu Border, the Morcha said that they are ready for talks with the Government but they have to repeal the three farm laws and guarantee for MSP — Minimum Support Price at which the Government procures crops from farmers.
“The Government should make it a part of the agenda for resuming talks with the Government. We have proposed for talks on December 29. The farmers have also decided to hold tractor march on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) highway on December 30 in protest against the Centre’s agri laws. We request people from Delhi and other parts of the country to come and celebrate New Year with protesting farmers,” said Darshan Pal Singh, farmers’ leader.
“The farmers have decided to march from Singhu to Tikri to KMP. We also ask farmers of surrounding areas to join us and come in huge crowd on their tractors and trollies,” said Rajinder Singh, another farmer leader.
“If the Government doesn’t want us to block the KMP highway, then they better announce the repeal of the three farm laws,” said Singh.
Meanwhile, on Saturday morning around 9 am farmers at Ghazipur border blocked the National Highways 24 and 9 leading to a traffic jam between Delhi and Ghaziabad.
The Delhi Police took to Twitter to inform commutters about the traffic situation at the borders.
“NH-9 & NH-24 closed from Delhi to Ghaziabad due to farmers’ protests. People are advised to take alternate route for Ghaziabad via DND, ITO & Wazirabad,” Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.
“Singhu, Auchandi, Lampur, Piau Maniyari, Saboli & Mangesh borders closed. Pl take alternate routes via Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Pl avoid Outer Ring Rd, GTK road & NH 44.
“The chilla & Gazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. People are advised to take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anad Vihar, DND, Apsara, bhopra & Loni borders,” it tweeted.
There was no immediate response from the Government to the agenda proposed by the farmer unions for talks. An official said that the Government is ready for amendments, but maintained that there is no question of repealing the three farm laws.
On December 24, Aggarwal had written to the 40 protesting unions and invited them for fresh talks, but made it clear that it would
not be “logical” to include in the agenda any new demand related to the MSP, which is out of the purview of the three new farm laws.
In his letter, the officer had asked the unions to suggest a date and time for the next round of talks.
In its letter to Aggarwal, the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha said, “Unfortunately, your letter continues the Government’s attempt to mislead the public by suppressing true facts about the deliberations in the previous meetings. We have consistently demanded the repeal of the three Central Farm Acts, whereas the Government has distorted our position as if we were asking for amendments to these Acts.”
“If you are sincere about respectfully listening to the farmers, as you say in your letter, the Government must not indulge in misinformation about the previous meetings. The campaign launched by the entire State machinery to defame and malign the farmers’ movement must stop forthwith,” it said.
Sunday, 27 December 2020 | Staff Reporter | New Delhi
