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Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 1
The much-anticipated third round of talks between farmer outfits, including 32 from Punjab, and Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash ended inconclusively today with farmer leaders rejecting the Centre’s proposal to constitute a five-member committee to look into their grievances.
The unions told the government that “such panels had failed to yield the desired results in the past” and “that the time for committees was over as they now only wanted concrete action”.
Dialogue the way out
Proposed to constitute a committee but unions suggested they will attend further round of discussions to resolve the matter amicably.— NS Tomar, Agriculture Minister
A government statement said Agriculture Minister Tomar had proposed the setting up of the expert committee “to look into the issues of farmers so as to resolve them with mutual consent”. “The union representatives said they will attend the further round of discussions with the government to resolve the matter amicably,” the statement said.
Various issues related to “farm Acts were discussed in a cordial atmosphere,” officials said. However, Punjab unions said they rejected the offer of tea during the talks and instead asked the ministers to join them for ‘kheer’ and ‘langar’ at the border. “We just want the black laws to be rolled back,” they told Tomar, who asked farmer leaders to “identify specific issues related to farm reform Acts and share them with the government for consideration”. These issues will be discussed during the fourth round of meeting to be held on December 3. “The Government of India is always committed to protecting the interests of the farmers and is always open for discussions for their welfare,” Tomar said.
Union leaders claimed Tomar told them that “statutes could have deficiencies and that the government is willing to look into objections and deficiencies pointed out by the unions and will consider changing the same”.
While farmers are willing to settle for nothing but a complete rollback of five laws (the three “black” laws, the newly enacted ordinance on air quality management in Delhi-NCR and the electricity Bill 2020), the government too is firm on its stance. Farmer leaders say the laws are “more than 90 per cent wrong”. “If the government wants new laws, it will have to first consult farmers. These are like a death sentence for the farmers and we will not allow corporates in Punjab.”
Trudeau speaks in support, MEA hits back
New Delhi: The MEA has called “unwarranted” and “ill-informed” the comments by Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister, on the farmers’ stir made during a virtual interaction to mark Gurpurb. “The situation is concerning and we are all very worried about family and friends and I know that is a reality for many of you. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest,” he said. TNS
Open hearts, not just doors, says Congress
New Delhi: Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the government should either suspend the three farm laws or announce legal guarantee for the MSP regime. “Please talk to all farmer outfits… Opening doors is not sufficient, open your hearts too,” he said. TNS
Sportspersons to return awards
Chandigarh: Several former sportspersons, including Padma Shri wrestler Kartar Singh and Arjuna awardees Sajjan Singh Cheema (basketball) and Rajbir Kaur (hockey), have decided to return their awards to protest the use of “brute force” on farmers en route to Delhi. PTI
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