FARMERS REJECT OFFER FOR EARLY TALKS
cies and home ministry. The government got these statutes rammed through Parliament and farmers expect a response that is political, from the highest levels of the government. Its attempt to invoke Home Ministry only acts as a threat to farmers, rather than arouse confidence in its sincerity,” the AIKCC said in a statement.
Thousands of farmers have clashed with police, travelling toward the national Capital, where they are holding protests against three farm laws approved by Parliament in September.
Cultivators on tractors and trucks flung police barricades into a river near Ambala district as they advanced to the national Capital, as police stopped them with tear gas and water cannons. The Union home ministry on Friday allowed farmers to assemble at the capital’s Burari grounds and made a fresh offer for talks.
“The farmers clearly want to be sure that ministers who would be negotiating with them should be authorised to take decisions. That seems to be the message,” said political analyst Sanjay Kukreti of the Osmania University.
Farmers want the Narendra Modi government to revoke three contentious laws approved by Parliament in September. The laws essentially change the way India’s farmers do business by creating free markets, as opposed to a network of decades-old, government-controlled agricultural markets.
Together, the laws allow businesses to freely trade farm produce outside the so-called government-controlled “mandi system”, permit private traders to stockpile large quantities of essential commodities for future sales, which earlier only government-approved agents could, and lay down new rules for contract farming.
Farmers say the reforms would make them vulnerable to exploitation by big corporations, erode their bargaining power and weaken the government’s procurement system, whereby the government buys staples, such as wheat and rice, at guaranteed prices.
Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and railways, food and consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal had held daylong negotiations with farmers on November 13. The discussions were inconclusive, but both sides had agreed to continue negotiations in the future.
years with a fine of not less than ₹15,000. In case of girls, who are minors or belong to the scheduled castes or the scheduled tribes, the imprisonment will be for two to 10 years with a minimum fine of ₹25,000. In case of mass conversion, the law has the provision for imprisonment of three to 10 years and a minimum fine of ₹50,000. It provides for courts to award appropriate compensation with a maximum of ₹5 lakh payable by the accused to the victim.
Any person who counsels or convinces the other person to commit the offence will also invite punishment. And the burden of proof will lie with the accused.