Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers reject proposal to suspend laws

In the meeting held with the police officials [on Thursday morning], the police requested not to conduct the parade in Delhi, while the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade on the Outer Ring Road,” the Morcha said in a statement. Noting that 147 farmers have died during the protest so far, the Morcha said “their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws”. In a parallel process, the Supreme Court-appointed committee started its hearings on Thursday, reaching out to 10 farmer groups in eight States via videoconference. The farmers “gave their frank opinion, including suggestions to improve the implementation of the Acts”, an official statement said. The Morcha has refused to appear before the committee. After nine rounds of talks ended in stalemate, the Centre offered a partial concession during the 10th round on Thursday, saying that the laws could be kept in abeyance for 18 months while dialogue continued in a joint committee. The unions said they would consider the proposal. Although the Morcha ultimately reached a unanimous decision to reject the Centre’s proposal, there were some initial dissenters. According to some union leaders who did not wish to be named, a suggestion was made to submit a counter offer asking for the suspension of the laws for a longer period of four to five years, rather than an outright rejection of the Centre’s offer. However, this was not acceptable to the whole group, they said. “Suspension is not the same as repeal,” said Rakesh Tikait, who heads a faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). Even a longer suspension would not be acceptable, he said. “Suspending the laws for a year or for a year and a half would cost the farmers dearly and the sword will keep hanging over their heads in the same way,” said BKU-Ekta Ugrahan secretary Shingara Singh Mann.

The Hindu

2021-01-22

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH