The ninth round of talks between the government and the agitators in the peasant movement again ended. Amidst the deadlock, the next date for dialogue is 19 January. The next roadmap of agitation and strategy is going to be churned at the meeting of United Kisan Morcha on January 16 before the next dialogue. Both (government and farmer organizations) are currently ready to discuss on the new date. There were five important things in this dialogue which lasted about five hours.
How it started
The ninth round of talks began on the situation after the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three laws, the panel created and the separation of Bhupinder Singh Mann, a member of the panel, Bhakiyu (Mann). On behalf of the government, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that at present, the implementation of the three laws is prohibited by the Supreme Court and we respect the decision, so discuss it with an open mind. The government made its intentions clear that when the Supreme Court panel is called, the government will present its stand.
The government was advised that they should also present their views before the Supreme Court panel. This will solve. Delegations of all the 41 farmer organizations involved in the talks expressed with a voice that they were not going to present their case before the Supreme Court panel. They will put their point before the government. There has been a demand for withdrawal of all three agricultural laws and legal guarantee of minimum support price from day one. The farmers said that we will talk to the government only.
The only thing around the committee
The government put forward a new proposal in front of farmer organizations. Feeling the agitation of the agitating farmers, they said that a formal discussion on the disputed issues should be started by forming an informal panel (committee) of the government and farmer organizations other than the Supreme Court panel. Farmers' organizations said on this, we are only discussing. Agriculture Minister Tomar said that talk should be made by forming a seven or 11 member informal panel (small committee).
On this, the farmer leaders said that if only representatives of 41 farmers organizations are involved in talks with this movement of 400-500 farmer organizations, then what else can a small committee do. From the beginning, till now the delegation of 41 farmers' organizations whose delegations are joining the talks is not acceptable in the cuts.
Bitterness over dialogue, conflict and repression
As soon as the government offered to agree on the next date for talks, then there was a bit of bitterness. Farmer leaders said that talks are being held on one side and on the other hand, the farmers' movement is being repressed. Farmer leaders referred to the recent Haryana incident. Farmer leaders said, in Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, force was not only used on agitating farmers, but in Haryana alone, 800-900 farmers were booked.
Cases have been registered against farmers under section 302 of Bhadvi. Not only this, when financial help (50-50 thousand) was given to the families of the deceased farmers for different reasons during this movement, the Income Tax-ED raids are being carried out on the helpers (jobbers etc.). They are being questioned about funding. Lawsuits have been filed on transporters who bring women into the movement. Farmer leaders raised questions that on the one hand, repressive action is being taken, on the other hand the date of talks is being given.
Agriculture Minister Tomar assured that he would be in a position to talk further with the Haryana government. The Laghu Hath government also appealed that the movement be withdrawn till negotiations and plow from the Supreme Court. Citing the cold and the corona, then women, children, the elderly were appealed to return home. Along with the talks, there was an objection in the gestures by the central government to the repression on behalf of the farmers, but the attitude of the central government or the agitating farmers was not softened.
Five important things of five hours
- First point : Discussion should be done by making an informal small panel outside the Supreme Court.
- Second point : the cases registered against the farmers should be withdrawn, the government should stop suppression.
- Third point : On January 19, talk on MSP by doing homework on both sides.
- Fourth point : the government will present the case to the panel of the Supreme Court, the farmers refuse.
- Fifth point : Watching the tractor parade, Supreme Court hearing and panel meeting.
