Farmers Movement Archive

Govt. asks farmers’ unions to reconsider its proposal

In reply to a question, Mr. Goyal said the media should use its “investigative skills” to find out whether the farmers were being misled. Reacting to the government’s appeal, Bharatiya Kisan Union (R) president Balbir Singh Rajewal, speaking at an SKM press meet at the Singhu border, said the farmers, too, had not “shut the doors” for talks, but stressed that the government must offer a “concrete solution” for the dialogue to resume. He said the proposal sent on Wednesday had been discussed for hours and there was nothing new in them. He reiterated that agriculture was a State subject and the three laws were “unconstitutional” and should be withdrawn. “The Ministers in the press conference today (on Thursday) conceded that the laws were for trade and commerce, validating our stand,” said Mr. Rajewal. He added that the focus of the government was traders and corporate houses and the farmers did not exist for them. Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said the unions were, “in principle”, opposed to contract farming, private markets and hoarding and therefore, the three laws should be repealed. He also alleged that farmers headed to Delhi from neighbouring States, such as Uttarakhand, were being harassed by the police. The Morcha leaders said the government should not “fool around” with the farmers and understand their sentiments.

The Hindu

2020-12-11

December 11 2020 00:00 IST