New Delhi: Amid widespread protests by farmers in outskirts of Delhi over three farm laws passed by the Parliament of India this year in September, farmer leaders have sent a letter to the Government of India (GoI) stating that they are open for talks and government must offer a concrete proposal first.
“We urge the government not to repeat those meaningless amendments which we have already rejected, but to come up with a concrete proposal in writing, so that can be made an agenda and the process of negotiation can be started as soon as possible,” Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav told the press at Singhu border while reading out a letter sent by the farmer leaders.
“We are waiting for the government to proceed with an open mind and clean intentions. We have been listening to the same set of amendments since December 5. We have told them that we don’t want these amendments,” the report quoted farmers leaders as saying.
The letter is addressed to Vivek Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare.
Farmer leaders said they have rejected amendments suggested by the GoI to the three farm laws and have since received no fresh proposal from the government.
Shiv Kumar Kakka, national president of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, said: “We spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and told him we are not going to accept the amendments. We want the laws to be repealed, but they are delaying the process.”
The letter sent by the farmer unions also states that the government is trying to “defame” the protest.
Quoting Yudhvir Singh of BKU, the report said: “They asked us if the proposal we gave was the decision of only one leader. I want to tell the government that they are trying to break our morale. They must find a solution soon”.
Yadav too said: “The government is holding talks with leaders and people who are not part of our movement. They (Centre) are trying to break our protest.”
Their letter also mentions how farmers are unhappy with the GoI’s response to their previous letters.
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