The farmers agitating against three agriculture laws enacted in September will consider a proposal from the government if it’s in a written form and on the repeal of the contentious laws, not amendments, farm union leader Hannan Mollah said on Wednesday.
“They (government) said they will send something in writing today. We have told them that if it’s in writing, we’ll look into it. We have our meeting at 12 pm today. A broader committee will discuss it,” Mollah, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha told news agency ANI.
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The farm union leader made the agricultural community’s stance clear on any amendments that the government may offer and said that only if the legislations are revoked, they will consider the draft proposal, which if looks “positive” to them, they will be ready to hold another round of talks with the central leadership on Thursday.
According to ANI, Mollah said, “If the writing is on amendment, our position is very clear. If it’s a repeal of the Bill, only then can we take note of it & consider. That meeting (today’s meeting with Centre) is cancelled. If a letter comes and we consider it positive, a meeting can be held tomorrow.”
Earlier in the day, the minister of state, commerce and industry, Som Prakash, said that the government will send the farmers a proposal on Wednesday and added that the peasants’ best interest was being kept in mind. “Home minister Amit Shah spoke to Kisan Unions yesterday about amendments. The government will today give a written proposal to Kisan Unions and they’ll think over it. Whatever will be in the interest of the country and farmers, is being considered by all, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the day, the minister of state, commerce and industry, Som Prakash, said that the government will send the farmers a proposal on Wednesday and added that the peasants’ best interest was being kept in mind. “Home minister Amit Shah spoke to Kisan Unions yesterday about amendments. The government will today give a written proposal to Kisan Unions and they’ll think over it. Whatever will be in the interest of the country and farmers, is being considered by all, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
{{/usCountry}}This comes after the sixth round of talks between the government and farmer unions to end the protests on Delhi’s various borders, which was scheduled on Wednesday, was cancelled over farm leaders’ refusal to attend.
Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said they’ll hold a meeting over the draft that will be sent by the Centre, adding that there will be more clarity on their next move by evening. “We’ll hold a meeting over the draft that will be sent by the Centre. That meeting is cancelled. Draft will be discussed & further course of action will be decided. We hope things will be clear by 4-5 pm today,” Tikait said.
Thousands of farmers have been demonstrating at borders of the national capital against three laws that they say will hamper their income and leave them at the mercy of large corporates. While the government maintains that farmers will benefit from the legislations that liberalise farm trade, farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the contentious laws.