On Wednesday, the Centre sent agitating farmers a proposal to consider in place of the latter’s demand for a repeal of the three farm laws. The farmers have rejected the proposal and said that while they are eager to consider future proposals, this one is an “insult” to them and their protest.
The Farmer leaders have now vowed to intensify their agitation by blocking key highways linking Delhi and a nationwide protest on December 14.
The sixth round of talks between the Centre and the agitating farmer unions slated today was cancelled, but the two sides maintained they were open to dialogue.
The Opposition, which has been supporting the farmers’ stir and had backed Tuesday’s ‘Bharat bandh’, approached President Ram Nath Kovind.
A five-member delegation including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram met the President seeking repeal of the farm laws against which thousands of farmers have been protesting on the borders of the national capital for the last 13 days.
The Shiromani Akali Dal alleged that the Centre packaged “old wine in a new bottle” and said the farmers have rightly rejected the proposal.
After Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with farmer leaders last night, the Government sent the proposal offering to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.
The Government said an amendment can be made wherein State Governments can register the traders operating outside mandis. States can also impose tax and cess as they used in APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandis on them.
On apprehensions about the scrapping of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime and shifting of trade to private players, the government said it is ready to give a written assurance that the existing MSP will continue.
Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said there was nothing new in the Government’s proposal, and that it was “completely rejected” by the ‘Sanyukta Kisan Committee’ in its meeting today.
‘Gherao’, ‘boycott’, ‘protest’
The All India Kisan Sangarsh Coordination Committee, a pan-Indian umbrella organisation comprising 250 farmers’ units has issued a statement supporting the rejection of the government’s proposal by farmers. The statement read, “Modi government is insincere and arrogant about resolving farmers’ demands. All farmer bodies have rightly rejected the old proposal dressed up as new.”
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, farmers’ union leaders said that they will continue with their protest and will block all “Delhi roads one by one” if the three laws are not scrapped.
On December 14, there is a call to all north Indian farmers to come to Delhi. On the same day, farmers in south India and other states will protest at district headquarters and sit in indefinite protests.
Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said, “We will gherao district headquarters in states on December 14, and the Jaipur-Delhi highway will be blocked till December 12.” No tax will be be paid on that day at any toll plaza in country, he added.
The farmers have also given a call for gheraoing offices of the BJP on December 14. On the day, they will also be boycotting Jio services and boycotting of malls and products owned and marketed by Adani and Ambani, who they consider symbols of big corporations to which the Centre is pandering.
However, farmer leaders have also said that they will consider another proposal if it is sent by the government.