Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers to hold talks with Centre today

At least 28 farmer unions in Punjab, which have been protesting against the controversial new farm marketing laws, have agreed to hold discussions on the issue with the Union Agriculture Ministry in Delhi on Wednesday, after rejecting a previous invitation just days ago. However, they emphasised that protests will continue. Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal’s invitation to the unions to hold talks in Delhi was the trigger for much debate and argument among farmer leaders at a coordination meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday evening. Some groups wanted to attend to showcase their willingness to talk to the government while others demanded that the Centre depute representatives authorised to negotiate the repeal of the laws and discuss a new law guaranteeing MSPs. At the end of the day, most unions agreed to participate with the caveat that they will not lift their agitation — blocking roads and rail lines. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) were among the few hold-outs which said they will not attend the meeting. “The Government of India has always been serious about agriculture. Therefore, the Central government is eager to talk to you,” said Mr. Agarwal’s invitation, which noted that the Punjab farmers have been agitating for days. “We have accepted the invitation extended by the Agriculture Secretary for the meeting. We don’t want to give the government an excuse that we are not willing to talk on the issue, and hence we have decided to participate,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda). Mr. Singh said farmer outfits have also decided to continue their ‘rail-roko’ agitation across the State. “It was also decided that if the Punjab government did not convene an Assembly session by October 15 to repeal the laws, we will start boycotting Congress leaders, the same way as the BJP leaders are being boycotted,” he said. The Agriculture Secretary’s letter was sent to 29 groups, of which eight call themselves a faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, the group originally founded by iconic farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh. The faction named after the western Uttar Pradesh leader Mahendra Singh Tikait claims it is the only registered BKU and insists it will not take part in the talk.

The Hindu

2020-10-14

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH