News Analysis India

Tag: Agri Laws

  • Farmers’ protest: First committee meet tomorrow

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A controversial committee appointed by the Supreme Court last week to hear arguments on the three contentious farm laws to resolve the ongoing agitation of farmers, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, its member Anil Ghanwat said on Sunday.

    While one of its members, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee, the other three, including Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi, will hold an internal meeting on Tuesday and begin hearing all stakeholders from Thursday.

    ALSO READ: Will go ahead with tractor march in Delhi on Republic Day – Farmer unions

    The next round of talks between the Centre and the farmers, too, is slated for Tuesday. On Monday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition filed by the BKU Lokshakti union seeking disbanding of the present committee and putting in place a new one in the interest of harmony and natural justice, as its current members are known supporters of the farm sector reform laws.

    The bench could also look into the possibility of appointing a replacement for Mann who recused himself from the panel. 

    ALSO READ: Give up stubborn stand and come for discussion on January 19: Narendra Tomar to protesting farmers

    Another point of friction is the proposed Kisan Tractor Parade by farmers on Republic Day. The bench will hear a plea by the Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers that could disrupt Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

    For their part, farmers announced that the Kisan Tractor Parade would be on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi covering about 47 km. Every vehicle will fly a Tricolour and the flag of the respective farmer union, they said after a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in at the Singhu border in Delhi. 

    Forget repeal: Amit Shah

    “There is no question of repealing the farm laws. These farm laws, which are aimed at enriching the lives of farmers by strengthening them financially, will be implemented in the coming days,” Union home minister Amit Shah said in Bagalkot on Sunday.

  • Farmer union moves SC, seeks panel reconstitution

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A farmer union on Saturday urged the Supreme Court to remove the remaining three members of the committee constituted to resolve the impasse over the three contentious farm laws, and asked the court to choose new people for the commitee who can do the job “on basis of mutual harmony”.

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union Lokshakti cited the principle of natural justice to make is going to be violated as those appointed to the four-member committee “have already supported these laws”.

    The farmer union, in an affidavit, also sought dismissal of a plea of the central government, filed though the Delhi Police, seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of Republic Day on January 26.

    “It is important to mention here with great regret that the principle of natural justice is going to be violated by making these persons as members of the committee…. how they will hear all farmers on equal parameters when they have already supported these laws,” stated the affidavit filed by the farmer union.

    On the issue of the Delhi Police seeking injunction against the tractor rally, it said prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 were already in place in the New Delhi area. The Bhartiya Kisan Union Lokshakti is one of the 40-odd farmer unions spearheading the agitation on various border points of Delhi for about 50 days now.

  • Farmers’ protest: Rashtriya Kisan Manch president expresses resentment over govt’s ‘indifferent’ attitude

    By PTI
    MATHURA: President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit on Saturday expressed resentment over the government’s “indifferent attitude” towards the farmers’ agitation against three new farm laws.

    “Step-motherly treatment being given to farmers may become counterproductive as the farmers know how to withdraw support to the BJP-led government,” he said while talking to reporters here.

    ALSO READ: No one was consulted, govt must agree to start on ‘clean slate’: Chidambaram on farm laws impasse

    Dixit said due to the “indifferent attitude” of the government, farmers are being forced to protest in the chilly weather.

    He said the government is using “lingering tactics” to break the morale of the farmers.

  • Agri laws: Centre-farmer talks fail, next meet on January 19

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH:  The ninth round of talks between farmers’ unions and the Centre on Friday remained inconclusive but both sides agreed to meet again next Tuesday in a bid to break the deadlock over three contentious farm laws. 

    “The government urged farmers to form an informal group among themselves to prepare concrete proposals to be discussed in the next meeting,” Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said. However, the unions rejected the suggestion. 

    Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Punjab (Lakhowal group) said the Centre asked the union leaders to discuss their problems with the farm laws clause-wise. The farmers said no. They also turned down the government’s request to meet the panel formed by the Supreme Court. 

    ALSO READ | Government wants farmer unions to form informal group to prepare concrete proposals: Narendra Singh Tomar

    The apex court had on January 12 stayed implementation of the laws and set up a panel to talk to both the striking farmers and the government. The farm unions have welcomed the stay but refused to meet the panel saying it’s pro-government.

    The farmers have reiterated they won’t end their protest until the three laws are withdrawn fully. The next round of talks would be significant as the SC-appointed committee will be present in the meeting. One of the panel members, Bhupinder Singh Mann, had on Thursday recused himself from the committee. 

    NIA raids figure in talksFarmers raised the issue of NIA raids on transporters supporting the agitation, said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan)

  • Agri laws can be a significant step: IMF

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said India’s new farm laws have the potential to represent a significant step ahead for agricultural reforms. It, however, added that the people who could be affected the most due to the transition to the new system should be adequately protected.

    “We believe the farm bills do have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India. The new measures will reduce the role of middlemen and increase efficiency,” director of communications at the IMF Gerry Rice said.

    “However, it is crucial that the social safety net adequately protects those who might be adversely impacted during the transition to this new system,” the IMF spokesperson said, adding this can be done by ensuring that the job market accommodates those that are impacted by the reforms.

    Upon being asked on how a social security net can be created for the persons who could be adversely affected, Rice said that this could be done by making sure that the job market accommodates such persons.The IMF comments on a day the ninth round of talks between the government and the farmers took place but failed to break the deadlock and days after the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three new agricluture laws and formed a four-committee to oversee the negotiations. 

    The farm protests had garnered international attention after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had expressed concerns over the protests. India had reacted saying the matter was an “internal affair” and his comments were unwarranted and unnecessary. A group of 100 UK MPs had also written to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking him to take up the matter with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The farmers have threatened to hold a tractor rally on January 26.

  • Government-farmer meeting ends; Next round on January 19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Protesting farmer unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws at their ninth round of talks with three central ministers but while the government asked them to be more flexible in their approach and expressed willingness for necessary amendments, as the two sides decided to meet again on January 19.

    Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said told reporters after the meeting that the unions urged the government to repeal the three laws, but the Centre was unwilling to do so.

    “We decided to meet again on January 19 at 12 pm,” he said.

    Ugrahan said the union leaders also raised the issue of NIA raids on transporters in Punjab who are supporting farmers’ protests and were providing logistic support for the agitation.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi doesn’t respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi

    At the meeting that lasted for nearly five hours, including a lunch break, farmers unions said they are committed to continuing holding direct talks to resolve the over-one-month-long deadlock over three agri laws, even as a committee has been formed by the Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock.

    In his opening remarks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged farmer leaders to be flexible in their approach as has been done by the government.

    Besides Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash were part of the government side talking with representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    “Both the government and farmer unions have reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the direct dialogue process,” All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee member Kavita Kuruganti, who is part of the meeting, said.

    ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    “In his opening remarks, Tomar ji said you keep saying that the government is adamant and making it an issue of ego, even though we have accepted several demands.

    Don’t you think you should be flexible and not stick to one single demand of repealing the laws,” said Baljit Singh Bali of Punjab Kisan Morcha.

    Farmer leader Darshan Pal said there was a good discussion on all three laws.

    “There is a possibility of some resolution. We are positive,” he added.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    Another leader Rakesh Tikait said: “Government has told us that solution should be found through dialogue and not a court. Everyone is of the same views. There is a possibility of some solution.”

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

    On January 8, the eighth round of meeting had remained inconclusive as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for the reforms.

    However, farmer leaders had said that they were ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ would happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    In the sixth round held on December 30 last year, some common ground was reached on two demands — decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies.

    Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms aimed at increasing farmers’ income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the minimum support price (MSP) and “mandi” (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations.

    The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out a repeal of the laws.

    The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann, however, on Thursday recused himself from the committee.

    Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute’s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

  • PM Narendra Modi doesn’t respect farmers, wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi

    Rahul Gandhi said that the talks that are being held with the protesting farmer leaders are part of the government #39;s delaying tactics.

  • Agri laws: Union Ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws.

    Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

    ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    On Thursday, Tomar had said that the government’s ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions would take place as scheduled and the Centre was hopeful of positive discussions.

    “The government is ready to hold talks with farmer leaders with an open mind,” Tomar had told reporters here.

    The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann on Thursday recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

    Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute’s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

    On January 8, the eighth round of meeting remained inconclusive as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for the reforms.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    However, farmer leaders had said that they were ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ would happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

    Though talks till now have remained inconclusive, in the sixth round held on December 30 last year some common ground was reached on two demands — decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies.

  • Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday led the party’s protest in the national capital in support of the agitating farmers, and said his party will not relent till the new farm laws are repealed.

    He was accompanied by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders of the Delhi Congress at the protest outside the Delhi LG’s residence here as part of the countrywide agitation.

    Addressing the gathering, the former Congress chief said the Congress party will not step back till the time the government repeals these three farm laws.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    “These laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them. These laws are aimed at helping corporates like Ambani and Adani instead,” he charged and added, “That is why we are standing in favour of the farmers”.

    “The BJP government will have to take these black laws back. Till the time these laws are repealed, Congress party will not relent,” he told the protesting Congressmen.

    “The Narendra Modi government earlier tried to take away the land of farmers, when it brought the land acquisition Act and the Congress party stopped them at that time. Now the BJP and their two-three friends are once again attacking the farmers and have brought these three farm laws,” he also alleged.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    The Congress is taking out protest marches at all state capitals in the country and will gherao Raj Bhawans.

    The party is also protesting against fuel price hike.

    The Congress is observing the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas in support of farmers’ rights.

    The protests come on a day the government is holding the next round of talks with leaders of farm unions to end the deadlock over their agitation.

  • UPCC president, Congress workers detained during protest against farm laws in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Congress workers, including UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu, were on Friday taken into custody while trying to march towards the Raj Bhawan here as part of the party’s ‘Kisan Adhikar Diwas’ programme against the new farm laws.

    Led by Lallu, party workers had started their march for the Raj Bhawan ‘gherao’ programme when they were taken into custody in Dalibagh area, a Congress spokesman said.

    Party workers raised ‘jai jawan jai kisan slogans’ when the police tried to disrupt their march, the spokesman said.

    The party is observing Raj Bhawan ‘gherao’ programme all over the country against the new farm laws on Friday, the spokesman added.