Farmers Movement Archive

Government hardens stand, asks unions for law repeal ‘alternative’

NEW DELHI: Hardening the government’s stance ahead of the next round of talks scheduled for Tuesday, agriculture minister N S Tomar on Sunday called on farm unions to come up with an “alternative” to their demand for repeal of the new agri laws, saying most farmers, experts, scientists and other stakeholders are in favour of the legislations. “There’s no point in being adamant (on demanding repeal of laws) when the Supreme Court has already stayed their implementation. We expect farmers to discuss the laws clause-by-clause on January 19 and give us other options. If the unions’ objections are found to be valid, the government may consider them and go ahead with amendments,” Tomar said. Read AlsoSC hearing today, but no plans to junk paradeBATHINDA: A day ahead of the Supreme Court taking up the pleas of the Central government and Delhi Police to restrain farm organisations from taking out a tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, on Sunday, announced that it is determined to proceed with the tractor paradeFarm representatives, however, said Singh’s comment indicated the Centre was not willing to talk on their core demands. They also condemned the National Investigation Agency (NIA) serving notices to people who they said were supporting the protests. The unions said the umbrella body Samyukta Kisan Morcha would legally challenge the NIA actions. Maintaining that the Centre had suggested amendments, Tomar said, “The farmer unions are not willing to move even a bit and are constantly asking to repeal the laws. When the government enacts any law, it is meant for the whole country. Most farmers, scientists, experts and other stakeholders working in the farm sector agree with these laws. Read AlsoCentre insists on clause by clause talks with unionsAgriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the unions it was incorrect to say the Centre had not budged on the demands put forward by them, pointing to the proposed amendments that had been sent to them. On the other hand, the unions kept insisting on repeal of all the three laws withoutYudhvir Singh, general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union, while addressing a joint press conference at Singhu border, said, “It seems the minister, by deliberately making such remarks, wants to convey that the government does not want to talk on our core demands. The government thinks that we won’t take part in talks after hearing his remarks. But we will definitely go for talks to get the reply on our demands.” Read AlsoReady to protest till May 2024, assert farmers; give up stubborn stand, says govtNEW DELHI: Ahead of the tenth round of talks scheduled on January 19, both the Centre and farmers remained firm on their position regarding the three new agriculture laws. Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday again urged the protesting farm leaders to give up their "stubborn"In the previous meeting on Friday, Tomar had strongly emphasised the need for a clause-by-clause discussion and also suggested a smaller group of negotiators. Though the government had called for this earlier too, the minister's insistence on a focussed discussion of provisions of the three laws indicated that the Centre wanted to force the pace of talks. Though the unions have said they will continue their protests, their options might be limited with both the SC and the Centre unlikely to repeal the laws. Questioning Tomar’s remarks, the farmers’ unions asked what was the point of such a statement when they had already told the government during the previous round of talks that they would come for discussion only on their core demands — repeal of three laws and legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) — on January 19. The Centre's remarks come at a time when the SC has set up a committee to examine and suggest changes to the laws that seek to encourage private trade and contract farming and do away with stock limits. Reiterating the government’s stand, Tomar in a statement explained how the government identified some key concerns of the farmers’ unions on its own when the farm leaders were not able to talk on specific clauses during the initial rounds of talks and even sent a proposal to them on the possibility of amendments. His remarks come on a day when the unions criticised the government for harassing those supporting the protests. They said though they had nothing to do with the US-based banned secessionist group Sikhs for Justice, NIA notices to protesters showed the government’s insensitivity. Condemning the NIA’s move, Darshan Pal of Krantikari Kisan Union said, “We will fight this in every possible way. This is happening despite the ministers during the previous round of talks assuring us to look into the issue when we flagged it to them right at the beginning of the meeting.”

The Times of India

2021-01-18

India