Farmers’ protest: Protesting farmers reject government offer; vow to intensify protest ahead of Dec 14
The Delhi Chalo farmers' protest at border points in New Delhi has entered the 15th day today. Farmer leaders have rejected the government's offer of amendments in the new farm laws and a written assurance on continuing the MSP system.
FollowNew Delhi: Farmers have been protesting against the Central government’s three agricultural reforms for the last 15 days. Several rounds of talks have been held between leaders of farmer groups and union ministers, but they have failed to reach a logical conclusion. The sixth round of talks which was supposed to be held on Wednesday got cancelled but the two sides maintained they were open for dialogue.
Protesting farmers have unanimously rejected the Centre's written offer of amendments in farm laws, and announced a series of plans to escalate their protest. The plans involve closure of the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, boycott of Reliance malls and capture of toll plazas. By December 14, there will be a full-scale protest across the country, they said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose meeting with farmers was inconclusive Tuesday, had a two-and-half-hour meeting with Agriculture minister Narendra Tomar and Commerce minister Piyush Goyal yesterday evening.
Leaders of opposition parties met President Ramnath Kovind on Wednesday and sought removal of the farm laws. The five-member delegation included NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and TKS Elangovan of the DMK.
Rahul Gandhi after the meet said that the laws were passed without any discussion or conversation with the opposition parties or with farmers adding that farmers would not relent and continue their protests until the laws are taken back.
More than 10 days ago, thousands of farmers had reached Delhi borders to protest against the farm laws, which they say will shrink their income by doing away with the minimum prices fixed by the government and leave them at the mercy of corporates. The government says the laws are major reforms in the farm sector that will help farmers dispense with middlemen and allow them to sell produce anywhere in the country. At least five farmers have died since the protests began.
