40th day of Farmer Protest: Government meeting with farmers continues; A 2-minute silence was kept for those who lost their lives in the movement

Posted on 4th Jan 2021 by rohit kumar

Today is the 40th and important day of the farmers' agitation against agricultural laws. The 8th round of negotiations with the farmers' government is going on at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Commerce Som Prakash are present in the meeting. During this, he paid tribute to the farmers who lost their lives in the movement by keeping silence for 2 minutes.

 

According to news agency sources, the government can discuss every clause of the laws to convince the farmers. Before going to the meeting, the Agriculture Minister said that a positive solution is expected today. Farmers' organizations have said that if the government does not accept the demands, then the protest will be intensified.

 

This time to farmers brought food by themselves

 

Updates

 

All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mola said, 'It is up to the government whether it wants to solve the problems of the farmers or to weaken their struggle by conspiring against them. We hope that the government will keep a human mind.

 

Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, '60 farmers, have lost their lives during the agitation so far. Every 16 hours a farmer is dying. Government accountability is formed.

 

Reliance Jio's towers and offices in Punjab and Haryana were severely vandalized in the past in support of the peasant movement. In such a situation, Reliance filed an application in the Punjab-Haryana High Court on Monday. The company said that the government should stop meddling immediately.

 

Joint Secretary Sukhwinder Singh of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, Punjab has said that if the demands of withdrawal of agricultural laws and guarantee of MSP are not fulfilled, then on January 6, tractors will march.

 

The 2 December meeting agreed on 2 issues

 

1. No case will be registered for burning stubble: Currently, there is a provision of Rs. 1 million fine and imprisonment for 5 years. The government agreed to remove it.

 

2. No change in the Electricity Act: Farmers fear that this law will stop the electricity subsidy. Now, this law will not be made.

 

... so the hopes of the farmers increased and the stance softened

 

After agreeing on 2 issues, the attitude of farmers showed softening and they postponed the tractor rally to be held on 31 December. Today these 2 important issues will be discussed.

 

What hope can be found?

 

According to sources, in today's meeting, big issues of farmers can also be resolved. The government can give written confidence in the issues of support price (MSP) and Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC). With this, such arrangements can be made that private companies are not able to buy crops in mandis at a price lower than MSP.

 

Only 1 out of the last 7 meetings resulted

 

First round: 14 October

What happened: Agriculture Secretary Narendra Singh Tomar replaced Agriculture Secretary in the meeting. Farmers' organizations boycotted the meeting. He wanted to talk to the Agriculture Minister only.

 

Second round: 13 November

What happened: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with farmer organizations. The conversation lasted for 7 hours but did not yield any results.

 

Third Round: December 1

What happened: Talked for three hours. The government suggested to form an expert committee, but the farmers' organizations remained adamant about repealing all the three laws.

 

Fourth round: 3 December

What happened: The conversation lasted for 7 and a half hours. The government promised that there would be no tampering of the MSP. The farmers had said that the government should cancel the three laws along with the guarantee on the MSP.

 

5th round: 5th December

What happened: The government agreed to give a written guarantee on MSP, but the farmers clearly said that the government should answer yes or no if the law is repealed.

 

6th Round: 8 December

What happened: Home Minister Amit Shah met on the day of Bharat Bandh. The next day the government proposed 22 pages, but the peasant organizations turned it down.

 

7th round: 30 December

What happened: Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal held a meeting with 40 representatives of farmer organizations. Differences persisted on two issues, but two were agreed upon.

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