TLI Staff
New Delhi: In what shows deep trust deficit with the Modi government, protesting farmers have rejected the proposal to put the three controversial laws on hold for 18 months and insisted for repealing them.
“In our meeting today, the proposal given by the government was rejected. It was reiterated by the leaders that scrapping the three farm laws and MSP for all the crops are two key demands. Hence, there was no question of reviewing the same,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal in a statement.
According to sources, while a section of farmer leaders was willing to consider the government proposal to stay implementation of farm laws, another group stood firm over their demand of withdrawing them completely. Citing the death of 147 fellow farmers during the agitation, this group felt that stepping back from the position would mean disrespect to the sacrifice made by the comrades.
The farmers’ stand is set to give major headache to the government which has been accused of not consulting all the stakeholders and got the legislations passed hurriedly by Parliament in September last year.
The farmers especially from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh have been up in arms against the government moved and have launched one of the most powerful protest.
Not convinced by the government argument, farmers fear that the three laws are aimed at gradually abolishing the system of procuring crops at minimum support price (MSP).
Punjab and Haryana being the major producer of wheat and paddy most of which are procured by central agency FCI on the guaranteed minimum price, the farmers from the two states fear massive hit from abolishing of MSP system.
The centre has, however, repeatedly tried to allay fears saying that foodgrains would continue to be procured on MSP and is willing to give the assurance in writing.
Farmers, however, want legislative backing for the MSP and put forward the demand forcefully during their protests which have now completed 57 days. They have braved all the odds including the extreme cold weather and camped across borders connecting Delhi.
During the 10th round of talks with the farmers, the government had on Wednesday finally blinked and proposed to put on hold the controversial farm laws for one to one-and-half years.
“During this time representatives of farmers’ Unions and the Government can discuss all issues related to the farmers’ agitation so that an appropriate solution can be arrived at,” an official statement from Agriculture Ministry had said.
The representatives of the farmers’ unions had told the government that they will discuss the proposal in detail and revert with their decision on January 22.
While the government budged from its long-held position due to mounting pressure from protesting farmers, it maintained that the farm laws would bring revolutionary change in the life of farmers and in the agriculture sector.
With the farmers now making their stand clear and insisting for taking out a tractor rally on Republic Day to display their resolve, the government is set to be in a tight spot.