India refuses to repeal farm laws but talks on RELIANCE APPROACHES AUTHORITIES AFTER ATTACKS ON MOBILE TOWERS
THE Indian government on Monday (4) refused to roll back farm reform laws, prompting farmers to threaten to step up their weeks-long protests, but the two sides agreed to meet again on Friday (8).
Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping out on roads around the capital, New Delhi, for 40 days, insisting that the government withdraw the reforms and guarantee a minimum support price for their produce.
“I am hopeful the stalemate will be resolved very soon,” agricultural minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after the seventh round of meetings between the ministers and 40 farming unions.
“For resolution, the cooperation of both sides essential,” he added.
Farmers leaders, however, said they would not give up their fight unless the government agrees to repeal the laws, approved by parliament in September. “Our agitation will continue till the three laws are withdrawn. There is no other way,” said Rakesh Tikait, one of the farmers’ leaders who attended the meeting with ministers.
Reliance Industries asked authorities to help stop attacks on its telecommunication masts by protesting farmers, who say the conglomerate has profited from the reforms at their expense.
A source close to Jio, Reliance’s mobile phone enterprise, said more than 1,400 towers had been vandalised up to last Sunday (3).
A telecoms industry official said at least 150 more were damaged on Monday.
Videos showing Jio employees being chased from towers have been widely shared on social media.
Protesters also blockaded one of Punjab’s biggest
is cooking oil depots owned by Adani subsidiary Fortune in Amritsar.
Davinder Singh, a farmer who took part in a protest in Amritsar last month, said the boycott calls were being increasingly followed.
“We are with our farmer brothers who are protesting at the Delhi borders. We appealed to the people to boycott Jio and Adani.
“People have heard us. Many their Jio connections,” he said.
The majority of India’s farmers sell their produce largely to small retailers at a much lower price than the government guaranteed price – offered to only a
people
have
cut fraction of farmers. They fear that with the introduction of the new laws, big retailers such as Reliance will enter the market to buy their produce at a lower price, while the government may slowly dismantle the current system of procurement at the guaranteed price.
The government says the changes, which allow farmers to sell their produce on free markets, are needed to modernise the rural sector, the foundation of the economy, and boost farm incomes. Farmers, who received huge public subsidies, have demanded that the laws be repealed and minimum prices for key produce be guaranteed.