Govt offers changes on MSP, civil courts for contract farming disputes among 7 amendments; unions threaten to cut off Delhi, boycott Reliance, Adani; nationwide stir on Dec 14
Within hours of receiving the Government’s draft proposal to amend at least eight clauses of the new farm laws, farmers’ unions on Wednesday rejected the proposal calling it “vague” and an insult to farmers. Claiming that there was nothing new in the Government proposal, they threatened to intensify their agitation by blocking all entry points to the national Capital.
Farmers’ unions insisted on their demand to repeal the three farm laws. They also threatened to block the Jaipur-Delhi highway on December 12 and hold protest demonstrations in many parts of the country on December 14.
Terming the proposal as “vague” and an insult to farmers, Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said, “We will block the Delhi-Jaipur highway and sit on dharna at all the toll plazas of the country on December 12… No tax to be paid on that day at any toll plaza… We will also gherao all district headquarters during our nationwide protest on December 14. We have asked the people to protest against every MP and MLA of the BJP.”
Farmers said that there will be sit-ins across the country and will boycott Reliance/Adani/ Ambani establishments/products across the country.
Soon after farmers rejected the Government’s proposal, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence. The meeting went on for two-and-a-half hours.
At a meeting held at the Singhu border before the Government’s written proposals came in, the farmers decided that they would continue their protest till the Government removes the farm laws. “We do not accept any amendment in the laws, we want total removal,” the farmers’ representatives said.
A day after Shah’s talks with farm leaders ended in a deadlock, the Government on Wednesday sent a draft proposal to farmers unions to allay their concerns about the three farm laws. The Government has proposed to make the necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.
The Government proposed to include registration provision of private traders for trading outside regulated mandi, bring in equal taxes for APMC mandis and private markets to provide a level playing field and allow higher courts of appeal in contract farming disputes.
In its draft proposal, the Government also said it is ready to provide a written assurance that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) system will continue.
In the proposal, sent by Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal to 13 farmers’ unions, the Government said is ready to consider with an open heart the objections which farmers have on the new farm laws.
On farmers’ fear that mandis would weaken after the new laws, the Government said an amendment can be made wherein State Governments can register the traders operating outside mandis. States can also impose tax and cess as they used in APMC mandis on them. On concerns that farmers may be duped as anyone having just a pan card is allowed to trade outside APMC mandis, the Government said to rule out such apprehensions, the State Governments can be given the power to register such traders and make rules keeping in mind the local situation of farmers.
On the issue of farmers not getting the right to appeal in civil courts for dispute resolution, the Government said it is open to making an amendment to provide for an appeal in civil courts. Currently, the dispute resolution is at SDM level. On fears that big corporates will take over farmlands, the Government said it has already been made clear in the laws, but still, for clarity’s sake, it can be written that no buyer can take loans against farmland nor any such condition will be made to farmers.
On attaching farmland under contract farming, the Government said the existing provision is clear but still it can be clarified further if required. On fear about the scrapping of the MSP regime and shifting of trade to private players, the Government said it is ready to give a written assurance that the existing MSP will continue. On demands to scrap the proposed Electricity Amendment bill 2020, the Government said there won’t be any change in the existing system of electricity bill payment for farmers. On farmers’ demand to scrap the Air Quality Management of NCR Ordinance 2020, under which there is the provision of penalty for stubble burning, the Government said it is ready to find an appropriate solution.
Thursday, 10 December 2020 | Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
