Farmers' agitation: Begin dialogue, break stalemate, eminent persons urge Centre

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18

As the farmer agitation on the borders of Delhi has completed 140 days, 45 eminent persons have joined hands and appealed to the Central Government to have a sympathetic view towards the agitating farmers and invite them for talks.

These eminent personalities, including former bureaucrats, technocrats, businessmen, advocates, former defence officers, economists, food policy experts, educationists and historians, have also appealed to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha to respond positively to the offer for talks as and when it is extended to them.

In an appeal, the group has said the peaceful movement by farmers is a manifestation of the persistent and deep-rooted agrarian crisis and farmers’ distress in the country. “In the understanding of the farmers, the implementation of three farm laws will not only accentuate their crisis, but also pose a serious threat to their livelihood…. Globally, India is facing a serious setback to its cherished values of democratic and human rights.”

The appeal goes on to say that the adamant attitude of the government is causing unprecedented psychological and physical suffering to lakhs of agitating farmers consisting of women, children, old people and the youth. “Already more than 300 people have died and several hundreds suffered injuries and detentions in the ongoing struggle and there does not seem to be an amicable solution in sight,” says R S Ghuman, economist and one of the brains behind the appeal.

Among the other signatories to the appeal are Sompal Pal Shastry, TKA Nair, Dr Sudarshan Iyengar, Dr R Radhakrishna, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Dr Neera Chandhoke, Dr KS Aulakh, Ashok Arora, Rajinder Singh Cheema, Dr MS Mallik, Dr D Narasimha Reddy, Dr Biswajeet Chatterjee, Dr Sucha Singh Gill, Dr Ajit Kumar Singh, Gurdial Singh Pandher, Dr Kamal N Kabra and Devinder Sharma.