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In the next round of talks scheduled between the central government representatives and the agitating farmer unions to be held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, farmers are hoping for a breakthrough if the government offers a written assurance on Minimum Support Price for crops. While farmers want the new laws to be repealed, the government has made it clear that won't happen
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All eyes are on the next round of meetings called by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on December 5 in the capital's Vigyan Bhawan. The meeting will take place between the representatives of the agitating farmer unions and the officials from the agriculture and other central ministries.
It should be noted here that thousands of farmers from neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh among others have been protesting since last week against the new farm laws. The government has made it clear that these new laws are aimed at doing away with middlemen and allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, the agitating farmers say the laws will deprive them of the minimum prices fixed by the government and leave them at the mercy of corporates, something the government denies.
“In the new Act, it has been provided that farmers can take their grievances to SDM court. Farmers’ Unions feel that SDM court is a lower court and they should be allowed to go the court. Govt will consider this demand,” Tomar had said after the meeting. “People have reservations on MSP. I would like to reiterate that the MSP system will continue and we will assure farmers about it,” Tomar added. On its part, the government assured the group of nearly 40 farmer leaders that all their valid concerns would be addressed
On December 3, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who was in the capital to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah had appealed to both sides to resolve the issue, saying the unrest was impacting Punjab's economy as well as national security. Sources said the government is considering a written assurance about the continuance of the Minimum Support Price, the biggest concern of the farmers.
Farmers are camped out at four busy entry points of the national capital -- Singhu, Noida, Ghazipur and Tikri -- to press their demands. Farmers from Uttar Pradesh are holding a sit-in protest at the Noida-Delhi border while farmers from Punjab are at Singhu border among other places around Delhi NCR.