- Farmer leaders had decided to give their formal response to the Centre on January 22
- Unions have agreed that they want a complete repeal of the farm laws
- Farmers organisation SKM has asked Delhi Police for permission to carry on the R-Day tractor rally
TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: After holding a meeting on January 21 to discuss the Centre’s offer to put the farm laws on hold for a year and a half, the Farmers unions have collectively decided to push for complete repeal of the contentious laws. The farmer leaders have rejected the Centre’s proposal for negotiation as it could leave room for doubt and compromise.
Adamant on having the 3 farm laws rolled back, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) with over 500 farmers’ organisations under its banner declared that they are not willing to move an inch back.
“In a full general body meeting of the SKM today, the proposal put forth by the government was rejected. A full repeal of the three central farm Acts and enacting a legislation for a remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement,” said Darshan Pal on behalf of the SKM at the Singhu border.
Further, planning on the Republic Day tractor rally, SKM asked the Delhi police for permission to conduct their rally.
“In the meeting held with the police officials, the police requested us not to conduct the parade in Delhi, while the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade on the Outer Ring Road,” informed SKM’S Pal about the Delhi Police’s unfavourable response. Additionally, he said that the protest programmes will be continuing in Delhi on the national holiday.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has opted itself out from commenting on the constitutionality of the protests and refused to interfere. As the apex court stated that only the Delhi police could have a say regarding matters of law and order, the Centre had to withdraw the plea.
Therefore, the Centre is currently under pressure to form a new proposal to put the farm laws in abeyance for up to two years till a negotiation is reached via a joint committee to discuss the laws clause-wise. However, the experts chosen for the committee are also being eyed with suspicion as they have earlier spoken in favour of the laws and are expected to submit a report unacceptable to the farmers. Although the Centre has agreed to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court to this effect to dispel any doubt, the farmers are standing strong on their ground.
Source – Hindu Business Line
