Farmers Movement Archive

No further concessions, govt. tells farmers

Mr. Tomar accused outside “forces” of prolonging the protest for their own motives, saying that a resolution was not possible if the sanctity of the agitation was lost. “These laws are in the interest of farmers, but out of respect for the unions and the protest, we have put forth one proposal after another to amend the laws. Now we have given them our best proposal — to suspend the laws for one to one-and-a-half years while a committee is set up to resolve their issues,” he told journalists after the meeting. “This is now simply an ego issue with this government. If they can suspend the laws for one-and-a-half years, why don’t they repeal it and hold consultations and then re-enact it after one and a half years?” asked Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh leader Abhimanyu Kohar. However, Mr. Kohar added that the union leadership may hold further discussions on the Centre’s proposal again on Saturday. The leader of one of the 15 Punjab unions that voted against outright rejection of the Centre’s proposal on Thursday also advocated for further discussions. “I feel we should bargain for a three-year suspension, and an ordinance on MSP. But there is no question of separate negotiation with the government. We will ultimately stand by whatever the unions decide together,” said the leader, who did not want to be named. One of the reasons that farm unions decided to reject the government’s proposal is that they received legal advice that the Central government has no power to stay or suspend a law passed by Parliament, according to All India Kisan Sabha leader P. Krishnaprasad. The Centre’s proposal “is a violation and encroachment over the powers of Parliament and cannot be sustained legally,” he said.

The Hindu

2021-01-23

January 23 2021 00:00 IST