Chennai: Protesting farmer unions on Monday agreed ‘in-principle’ to a government proposal of holding the next round of talks on the new agricultural laws on 30 December, but said the Centre should have spelt out the agenda of the meeting in its invite.
Abhimanyu Kohar, a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 unions protesting against the contentious legislations, said the farmers have agreed to go for the meeting on the date proposed by the Centre.
The farmers’ acceptance of the proposal came hours after the Centre sent them a letter suggesting 30 December as the date for the dialogue, against 29 December the protesting unions wanted.
“In our letter sent to the government on 26 December, we had clearly mentioned that repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee for MSP should be part of the agenda for fresh talks, but despite this, the government in letter today has not mentioned any specific agenda,” Kohar said.
“But, we have agreed in-principle to hold talks with the government,” he said.
The government’s latest invite followed a proposal made by unions last week to hold the talks on Tuesday, 29 December, on agenda including modalities for the repeal of the three laws enacted in September.
Kohar said the government proposing to hold the talks on 30 December, instead of agreeing to farmers’ suggestion of 29 December, shows the Centre wants to assert its control.
Meanwhile, the Singhu border where thousands of farmers have been camping in protest against the new laws since 28 November, visibly swelled up on Monday as new protestors joined in over the weekend.
Navigating the highway-turned-township became challenging with the pathways being cramped as tractors and trolleys of new protestors occupied more and more space at the protest site.
Having already completed one month, the farmers said they were prepared for a long haul, and that essentials such as food and clothing are coming in in sufficient quantities to sustain their agitation.