Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40
protesting farmer unions, on Friday, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
urging resumption of talks over three farm laws they have been agitating
against at Delhi borders since November last year.
Though there had been several rounds of talks between the adamant protesting farmers and the Centre, over the contentiously passed three farm laws, however, have failed to reach the conclusion.
Taking a step forward to seek the government’s attention on the matter, the farmers’ body has asked the government to reinitiate a dialogue.
It may be noted here that farmers had met the government panel on January 22 in which no conclusion could be drawn. On January 26, when farmers’ held a tractor rally to Delhi from the protesting sites of Singhu, Tikri , and Ghazipur borders, reports of violence erupted. Following this, the Centre had shown a cold behavior towards the protesting farmers and had nearly subdued the matter.
In the latest statement issued, SKM said, “Today, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has written a letter to the Prime Minister, asking for the resumption of talks with farmers. This letter touches upon several aspects of the farmers' movement and the ignorant attitude of the government.”
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Considering the potential threat pandemic can cause, SKM said “we do not wish to expose anyone to the health hazards.”
Reiterating the need to continue to protest it added, “We cannot also give up on the struggle, as it is a matter of life and death, and also of future generations.”
"Any democratic government would have repealed the three laws that have been rejected by the farmers in whose name these were enacted, and seized the opportunity to provide a legal guarantee of MSP to all farmers…..as the Head of the government of the largest democracy in the world, the onus of resuming a serious and sincere dialogue with the farmers lies with you," the letter read.
Meanwhile, farmers body have decided t observe May 26 as 'black day' to mark six months of their protest at Delhi borders. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had appealed to public to hoist black flags at their houses, vehicles and shops on May 26 to demonstrate protest against the black farm laws.
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Pertinently, hundreds of farmers have been camping and protesting at the Delhi borders since November 2020. The sole demand of these farmers’ is to get the new farm laws- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, to be rolled back to safeguard the agrarian state and the farmers’ future. They further seek legislation to ensure minimum support price for crops.