Farmers’ Organisations Propose Talks on December 29, Release Four-point Agenda

New Delhi: With the aim of breaking the deadlock over the three agricultural laws, unions of protesting farmers on Saturday proposed the resumption of talks with the government on December 29.

The farmers’ leaders proposed four agenda points:  procedure and modalities for repealing the three farm laws, provision of a legal guarantee for MSP, removal of provision of punishment for stubble burning, and changes to the Electricity Act. They have demanded that the issues be discussed in that order.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers’ organizations that have been protesting at various points on the Delhi border.

"Responding to the government's proposal that it is ready to hold negotiations with farmers on the date and place of their choosing, we are proposing that the next meeting with the Government of India be held at 11 am on December 29. The first two points in our agenda for talks are: modalities to repeal the three farm laws, and mechanism and procedure to bring law for providing a legal guarantee on MSP (Minimum Support Price)," Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav told the media on behalf of the united farmers' front.

He said the other two agenda points were the amendments to be made and notified in the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and adjoining areas Ordinance, 2020 so as to exclude farmers from the penal provisions of the ordinance, and changes to the Electricity Act.

He accused the government of indulging in "letter diplomacy" to escape from its responsibilities. "The government sent us letter after letter, but we take at least two days to reply after building consensus among us. We got a letter on December 20 that was replied to on December 23. Soon after our response, we got another letter on December 24, wherein the government sought to know our agenda. We have let the government know, and now the ball is in its court," he added.

Meanwhile, the farmers’ bodies appealed to the people of Delhi and the rest of the country to celebrate the New Year with the protesting farmers. 

Another farmer leader, Rajinder Singh, said, "If the government does not accept our demands by December 29, we will march from Singhu to Tikri to KMP highway on December 30. We appeal to farmers from surrounding states to come in huge numbers in their tractors and trolleys. If our march leads to a traffic jam, it is the government’s fault. If the government wants to avoid the blocking of the highway, it should announce the repeal of the farm laws.