Farmers’ stir: Govt agrees to all demands, protest may end
With the Central government on Tuesday agreeing to most of the demands of the agitating farmers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — which is spearheading the ongoing protest — is likely to call off the year-long agitation.
The Union home ministry on Tuesday sent a written draft regarding issues raised by protesting farmers to a five-member committee which has been empowered by the SKM to hold talks with the government on behalf of all the protesting farmers. The Center is believed to have said that it will form a committee to look into the demand for a legal guarantee on MSP and that “the Haryana and UP governments have agreed to withdraw all the cases lodged against the farmers during the ongoing stir”.
In a meeting held at Delhi’s Singhu border Tuesday, SKM leaders expressed satisfaction over the initiative of the Central government to resolve the standoff, but some wanted more clarity
on the issues raised by them.
Farmer leader Kulwant Singh Sandhu claimed that a consensus has been arrived at and “nearly all demands” have been met. The SKM, however, said there was no consensus yet on ending the protest, which was triggered last year after the government enacted three farm laws.
“SKM confirms to have received a written draft proposal from the Government of India. The proposal was constructively discussed by the farm leaders at the SKM meeting at the Singhu Border today. The morcha
will seek further clarifications on a few points of the government's proposal, and will reconvene at 2 pm tomorrow for further discussion. The SKM hopes for a positive response from the government,” the umbrella body of over 40 farm unions said in a statement following the meeting.
SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the government has proposed a committee to look into the demand for a legal guarantee on MSP and that the panel will include farmer organisations outside the SKM, government officials and representatives of states. “We had objections to it. We do not want other committees who have been against our demands since the start of our agitation. We have asked the government to give a clarification in this regard,” he said.
On the draft “Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020/2021” proposed by Centre, the SKM has demanded that it should be withdrawn and not placed before Parliament.
It is learnt that the fivemember committee will discuss the issues raised by the SKM leaders with
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday tabled in Lok Sabha a list of farmers who died during farm law protests and demanded compensation for next of kin of those who died in farm laws agitation.
Speaking during Zero Hour, Mr Gandhi said that 700 farmers died in year long farms law agitation.
He pointed out that agriculture minister Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has told the Parliament that he had no data on how many farmers had died during these agitations.
"We have found that Punjab government has given `5 lakh compensation to 400 farmers and given jobs to 152 farmers. I have got the list and I will table it in the House. We have also made another list of 70 farmers who are from Haryana and I will table that too," said Mr Gandhi. "What your government is saying that no farmer died or you don't have the names. So, these are the names," he said. Mr Gandhi said that government should look at the list. "I want that the farmers be given their rights, they should be given compensation
What your government is saying that no farmer died or you don't have the names. So, these are the names. I want that the farmers be given their rights, they should be given compensation as well as jobs.
— Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader
as well as jobs," he said. "Prime Minister has sought apology from the country and the farmers. And he accepted that he made a mistake," said Mr Gandhi.
Congress members demanded a statement from the government on the issue.
On December 4, Rahul Gandhi had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "insensitive” for not paying compensation to families of the farmers who died during the protest against the Centre's three farm laws.