Farmer unions agree to resume talks with govt, propose meeting on December 29

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26

It is too early to call it a ‘breakthrough’ but there seemed to be some movement forward in the ongoing deadlock between agitating farmers and the government on the farm laws.

Responding to the December 24 invite by joint secretary Vivek Aggarwal, farmers’ unions on Saturday agreed for a meeting with Central ministers on December 29, at 11 am, in the Vigyan Bhawan. 

However, the meeting will be on the four-point agenda and as per the “sequence” decided by the Samyukt Kisan Morch “after due consultation with all organisations”. 

It includes “modalities to be adopted for the repeal of the three Central Farm Acts; Mechanisms to be adopted to make remunerative MSP recommended by the National Farmers’ Commission into a legally guaranteed entitlement for all farmers and all agricultural commodities; Amendments to be made and notified in the “Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020” to exclude farmers from the penal provisions of the Ordinance; and Changes to be made in the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 to protect the interests of farmers”.

Accusing the government of “misleading the public by suppressing true facts about the deliberations in the previous meetings”, unions said “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. 

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If it fructifies, the December-29 meeting will be the sixth formal attempt by farmer unions and the government to resolve the issue. The earlier meetings, including the one with Home Minister Amit Shah, failed to break the deadlock.

However, while farmers’ unions have set conditions, including the repeal of three laws, sources say the government is ready for amendments but there can be no going back on the three Acts, something which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made it clear in his address yesterday.

BJP leaders claim that “Left leaning” leaders in the agitation are “misleading” farmers and other unions, “many of who are ready for an early resolution”. They also say that today’s breakthrough has come after “back-channel talks with those willing to end to the impasse. Left leaning unions’ leaders are misleading farmers and creating hurdles between the government and genuine farmers and their leaders”.

Meanwhile, unions said on December 30 tractors will “march” from one border to the other and highways. They added that if the issue is not resolved, then on January 1 they will be making some “big announcement”. Today they “invited people of Delhi, Haryana and borders and enjoy langar” with them on the borders on the New Year day. 

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Speaking from Singhu border, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said “letter diplomacy is going on because the aim of the government is to put the ball in our court”. The last two letters by Joint Secretary Aggarwal have half-truths and same ‘chalakis’, he said, adding that farmers are “always ready to talk with an open mind”.

According to Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal, the general call for agitation and protest across the country, protests against NDA partners and “boycott of products Ambani-Adani and other corporates” is going on continuously.

Punjab and Haryana toll plazas will remain permanently free for now and on December 27 and 28, the martyrdom day of ‘sahibzade’ of Guru Gobind Singh will be observed on all five borders.

Full text of the letter by farmers' union:

To:                  Date: 26th Dec. 2020

Shri Vivek Aggarwal,

Joint Secretary,

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare,

Government of India.

Subject: Re Ongoing negotiations between farmers' organisations and Govt of India to repeal the three Central Farm Acts

Dear Shri Aggarwal,

This is in response to your letter (09/2020) dated 24th December 2020.

Unfortunately, your letter continues the governments' 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.

Be as it may, since you are willing to hold a meeting on date, time and issues of our choosing, we make the following proposal on behalf of Samyukt Kisan Morch after due consultation with all organisations. We propose that the next meeting between the farmers' representatives and the Government of India be held on 29th December 2020 at 11am, with the following agenda, as per the sequence mentioned below:

1. Modalities to be adopted for the repeal of the three Central Farm Acts;

2. Mechanisms to be adopted to make remunerative MSP recommended by the National Farmers' Commission into a legally guaranteed entitlement for all farmers and all agricultural commodities;

3. Amendments to be made and notified in the "Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020" to exclude farmers from the penal provisions of the Ordinance;

4. Changes to be made in the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 to protect the interests of farmers.

This is to reiterate that farmers' organisations are and have always been open to a sincere dialogue.

Sincerely,

(Leaders of 40 farmers organisations)

For

Samyukt Kisan Morcha

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