Farmers Movement Archive

Centre refuses to budge, cold to farmers’ demand for talks

NEW DELHI: The Centre does not seem inclined to entertain the fresh demand of farm unions to resume talks unless discussion is on the government’s offer of freezing implementation of the three farm laws for 18 months or an alternative proposal other than outright scrapping of the laws. “The unions should either be positive to our offer or provide us an alternative to repeal of laws. They have so far not provided any alternative. If they provide an alternative to us then we will talk,” said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar while clearing the government’s position on Saturday. Tomar’s remark comes a day after farmer unions opposing the laws, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and west UP, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to resume talks. The unions warned that if they do not receive a constructive and positive response by May 25, a “further intensification” of their struggle beginning May 26 will be announced. The farm protests at Delhi borders will complete six months on May 26 – the day which the union’s joint platform, ‘Samyukta Kisan Morcha’ (SKM), has decided to observe as a ‘Black Day’. Government sources pointed out that talks will be purposeless if — as has been the case in most of the 11 rounds held previously — the union leaders simply intone “scrap the laws” in the deliberations. Despite occasional signs of a breakthrough, the discussions have ended in stalemate. It is also pointed out that if the unions remain adamant, both sides will have to await the ruling of the Supreme Court whenever it is delivered. "The unions have a chance to negotiate a satisfactory settlement. The court verdict may or may not be as satisfactory," said an official. The last round of talks between government and unions of protesting farmers was held on January 22. The government side had offered the unions a proposal to put the implementation of laws on hold for 18 months and find an amicable solution to their demands by discussing the contentious or objectionable points through a joint committee. The unions had, however, rejected the offer, leading to a stalemate. They have since then held a position that they won’t talk unless the government agrees to repeal the three farm laws and also to their demand of giving legal guarantee to procurement at minimum support price (MSP). The unions’ letter, jointly written by nine farmer leaders, was sent to the Prime Minister through email with CC to all the three ministers –Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash – who had been involved in talks with 40 farmer unions, including 32 from Punjab. The letter is also seen in government as a reaction to concerns being expressed over gatherings at protests sites in the midst of a Covid surge, with unions wanting to convey their readiness for negotiations and seeking to place the onus on the Centre. Meanwhile, many labour organisations and trade unions on Saturday extended support to the SKM for observing May 26 as 'Black Day' throughout the country by hoisting black flags at their homes, shops, vehicles and MNREGA work sites. "The protest actions will be organised following the Covid-19 protocol," said a joint statement of these groups.

The Times of India

2021-05-23

India