Farmers, Govt will meet on Dec 9 for further discussion
IT was decided at a meeting between Govt and Farmers’ representatives held on Saturday, December 05 that the next round of talks will be held on December 9th at the request of all stakeholders. Central Government has said that they ‘’will send us a proposal on December 9th. We will discuss it amongst ourselves after which a meeting with them will be held that day’’ Farmers’ leaders say after the fifth round of meeting with Central Government. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar earlier appealed to them to ask senior citizens and children, at the protest site, to go back home. Govt assured them that it is ready to take back stubble burning ordinance. Cases of stubble burning registered against several farmers will be quashed. Talking to the media this morning, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar exuded confidence that farmers will think positively and end their agitation. Sources claimed before the commencement of the 5th round of meeting the previous round of talks was held in a cordial, transparent and frank atmosphere on the 3rd of this month. Representatives of 40 Farmers’ Unions took part in the talks with the Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways Minister Piyush Goel and Minister of State for Commerce Som Prakash. The Agriculture Minister had reiterated the Government’s commitment to the welfare of the farmers. He requested the representatives of the Unions to put forth their points of view and flag the issues which they felt were contentious. He assured the Unions that the MSP will remain and therefore the farmers need not fear that it will be done away with. The representatives of the farmer’s unions raised the question of the constitutional validity of the three laws. The Government side explained the constitutional provisions under which the Central Government legislated these laws. The farmers brought out issues related to the APMCs. They said there has to be a level playing field between Agricultural Produce Market Committees, APMCs and Private Markets and Trade Yards. They also said that there is a need for proper registration of Trade outside APMCs. ANI reported quoting Rakesh Tikait representing Bharatiya Kisan Union saying ‘’Government will prepare a draft and give us. They said that they’ll consult the states too. Discussions were held on MSP…Bharat Bandh (on 8th Dec) will go on as announced’’. Picture courtesy to DD
