Ready for talks with Centre: Punjab Farmers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 7

Reacting to the Central Government’s offer, farmer organisations said they were ready to join the negotiations, but besides three agriculture Acts, they would discuss the ordinance on pollution, electricity amendment Bill and no interest waiver on farm loans.

• Also read: Barnala farmers gherao Manoranjan Kalia, other BJP leaders for 5 hours
• Non-resumption of trains may lead to unrest in Punjab: Minister
• BJP: Punjab must help restore train services

Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said they had never run away from any negotiations, so they were ready to join this one also. “Besides three farm Acts, we want discussion on other three issues; first is the ordinance brought in haste against the stubble burning, second is the electricity amendment Bill, and the third keeping out farmers from any benefit under interest exemption scheme extended to those who have availed loans,” he said.

Kokri alleged the Central Government was hell-bent on protecting the interests of big corporate houses and had unleashed attack on farmers, which was unacceptable. “We want discussion and solution to every attack unleashed on farmers in the garb of Covid,” he said.

However, 30 farmer organisations said they were open to any offer for negotiations but with certain conditions. “First, we want a formal invitation. We won’t respond to any informal invite for meeting conveyed on phone or through local BJP politicians. Second, the government should reveal the name of the person who will represent it and must send only that official/minister for negotiations who is authorised to take decisions,” they said.

For over past five weeks farmer organisations have been holding protests across the state. Though they lifted dharnas from railway lines and petrol pumps of corporate houses, they are continuing to gherao houses of BJP leaders across the state and holding protests in front of private thermal plants.