New Delhi: Protesting farmers Wednesday demanded that a special Parliament session be called to repeal the three contentious farm laws. They also alleged that the government was trying to divide the farmers by calling different groups for talks separately.
The statements were made at a press conference at the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana, a day before the unions and the central government are scheduled to meet for the fourth round of talks.
Farmer unions had Tuesday met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Prakash for four hours, but the talks remained inconclusive.
Farmers had refused the government’s offer of a core committee, comprising representatives of both sides, to look into the three laws but agreed to sit down for talks again Thursday.
The main contention of farmers opposing the three bills is that they bring in corporatisation of agriculture by removing state-controlled markets. They also fear the laws will not ensure them a fair price for their produce.
The government has said the laws will remove the middlemen and help farmers access a wider market with competitive pricing, assuring that the current minimum support pricing of produce will continue.
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‘Will continue protest if laws not repealed’
The protesting farmers have prepared a document in which they have written down their objections to the three laws that were passed by Parliament in September.
“We have already made a document with our objections to the laws and we will give it to the government tomorrow and demand that the laws be repealed,” Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakonda), told ThePrint.
“We have made a 7-10 page document, and under each clause we have explained why we want the laws repealed. The meeting won’t last long because we already have everything written down from our end. If they don’t agree to our objections and don’t repeal the laws, we will continue our protest,” said Dr Darshan Pal, president of the Krantikari Kisan Union at the press conference.
The protests in Delhi entered their seventh day Wednesday, though farmers have been protesting the bills since Parliament passed them in the third week of September. The President gave his assent on 27 September.
The farmers are adamant that three laws be completely revoked.
“That is our main demand and we will not accept anything short of that,” said Satyavan, a working group member of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee.
Darshan Pal added that they are also demanding a special Parliament session to repeal the laws.
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‘Govt using divisive tactics’
Farmers camping at the Delhi borders have accused the central government of trying to drive a wedge between the different unions. In all, 35 unions and thousands of farmers marched to the national capital last week as part of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest rally, which was meant to culminate at the Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.
The allegations surfaced after the Centre called representatives of the 35 unions Tuesday but held separate talks with Rakesh Tikait, chief of the Bharatya Kisan Union (Tikait) on the same day.
“The government is trying to divide farmers by calling us separately and Tikait separately. But we will not fall for these tactics. Today, we held talks with Tikait and we have unanimously decided that all farmer unions will talk to the Centre together, agitate together and take all decisions together,” said Pal.
Tuesday’s meeting was the third round of talks that remained inconclusive. The previous two were held on 13 October and 13 November.
After arriving at the Singhu and Tikri borders that Delhi and Haryana share, farmers faced barricades, water cannons and tear gas. They also clashed with the police stationed at the borders to halt the rally’s progress.
The clashes triggered criticism for the Centre and the Haryana government.
By Friday evening, farmers were allowed to enter Delhi and move their protest to Burari, but the unions decided to stay put at the borders.
As the stalemate continues, farmers have promised to intensify their protests in the coming days. “3 December is Bhopal Gas Tragedy anniversary, so we have called a nationwide protest against corporates. Another nationwide protest has been scheduled for 5 December. This protest is not just Punjab’s protest anymore, but of the whole country,” said Pal.
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Why is Govt is such a hurry to negotiate with these middlemen? Let the protest as much as they want. Govt should not yield an inch.