- Farmer leaders to hold a meeting on January 21 for discussing the Centre’s proposal
- Centre offered to put the farm laws on hold for a year after 10th round of talks with farmer unions
- The next meeting on January 22 sparks hope for resolution
TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Since the farmers from across the country called for a nationwide strike on 8 December 2020, there is finally hope for a resolution coming out of the dialogue between the Centre and the farmer Unions. Till now, ten rounds of talks have taken place between the two parties over the controversial farm laws introduced by the government since they came into effect on September 24, 2020.
The date January 20, 2021, could be considered the first victory of the farmers’ protest as the Centre has agreed to take one step back. After the tenth round of talks, the government has finally offered to put the farm laws on hold for one-and-a-half year till a negotiation is reached. during which a committee would deliberate on them. Further, the Centre has proposed that a committee be constituted to discuss and deliberate on the different aspects of the contentious agricultural legislations.
In response, the leaders of farmer unions have agreed to consider the proposal and discuss it along with other farmer unions on January 21. Another meeting has been called on January 22 which is being looked forward to with great anticipation.
“I am happy that farmer unions have taken this very seriously and said they would consider it tomorrow and convey their decision on January 22. I feel that talks are progressing in the right direction and there is a possibility of finding a resolution January 22,” said Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar after the meeting was adjourned.
To lessen the scope of suspicion among the farmers, the government has also offered to give an affidavit to this effect in the Supreme Court.
The farmer unions have also raised the concern of the National Investigation Agency issuing notices to farmers. The harassment by NIA is being seen as a tactic to create troubles for protesting farmers to weaken their spirit.
Moreover, the Centre had also filed a plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally by farmers on the Republic Day (January 26). However, the Centre was forced to withdraw the plea after the court said it was “inappropriate” for it to take any action. The apex court said it is a law and order issue that comes under the jurisdiction of the police. Therefore, the Court can not interfere in who is allowed to come to Delhi for protests and who is not.
Source – Down To Earth
