Choose date for talks: Centre to farmers

Chennai: The Centre on Sunday asked protesting farmer unions to specify their concerns over its earlier proposal of amendments in the new agri laws and choose a convenient date for the next round of talks so that the ongoing agitation could end at the earliest.

In a letter to 40 union leaders, Union Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the Centre is making all efforts with ‘an open heart’ to find an appropriate solution to resolve all the concerns raised by farmers.

Previous five rounds of talks between the government and the unions have failed to break the deadlock with the farmers insisting on repeal of the three laws and camping at various border points of Delhi for over three weeks now.

Aggarwal said that in its draft proposal sent on 9 December, the government had proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including providing a ‘written assurance’ to the farmers that the existing minimum support price (MSP) system would continue.

But the unions had rejected the proposal in an email sent by Krantikari Kisan Union state president Darshan Pal on 16 December.

In the latest letter which was also sent to Pal, Aggarwal said the farmer unions’ response to the government’s draft proposal was ‘very brief’.

It does not specify the reason for rejecting the draft proposal. “It is not clear if the views are yours (Pal) or of all unions,” he said in the letter in Hindi.

Aggarwal requested that the union leaders who have been in talks with the government provide details of their remaining concerns and doubts over its draft proposal, and “suggest a date as per convenience for the next round of talks”.

The government intends to convene the next meeting at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi for resolving the issue so that the ongoing protests end at the earliest, he added.

The letter also mentioned that the government held meetings with several other farmers’ organisations and sought their suggestions on the matter.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah said it is likely that Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will in a day or two meet the union leaders.