Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab BJP netas meet PM, say govt ready to help tillers

BATHINDA/ NEW DELHI: Punjab BJP leaders Surjit Kumar Jayani and Harjit Singh Grewal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening and apprised him about various factors pertaining to the farmers’ agitation. Both the BJP leaders, who have been mediating between the Centre and the farm groups, are learnt to have briefed the PM about the stand of the farmers on the three agricultural laws and the situation in Punjab. After the meeting, which went on for over two hours, Jayani said the PM underlined that the government is always ready to do something in the interest of farmers. “However, Maoists have entered the (farmers’) movement and are not letting this issue (on farm laws) get resolved,” the BJP leader said. “He (PM) wants to help them out so that farmers end their protest but the protest is leaderless. It would be more convenient for the Union government to speak to a small number of people. If two members come up for talks, a solution could be found. It is hard to talk with over 40 people,” Jyani added. “Modi knows a lot... all will be resolved and something good will happen. I cannot disclose what transpired in the meeting but something good will happen... when something is conceived there are fears of a miscarriage,” Grewal said after the meeting. Jayani said that the proposed next round of talks on January 8 will be held as per protocol and hoped that some solution is worked out “and the matter is solved in a dignified way as the PM is serious about this”. Jayani, former Punjab minister, was appointed chairman of the coordination committee formed by BJP to discuss the issue with farmers before the bills were passed in Parliament and Grewal was a member of the panel.

The Times of India

2021-01-06

India