As the farmers’ protest entered its second day, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday urged all the leaders from different farmers’ organisations to cooperate and communicate so that the common people do not suffer.
Speaking on the ongoing farmers’ protest, Munda, who is also negotiating with farmer leaders, said, “The way things are being said by (farmer) organisations and the way they are said, instead of solving the problems, they are trying to add to those problems, creating difficulties for the people.”
He requested all the farmer organisations to take initiatives that can strengthen the way to solve the problem and to find a solution through dialogue, adding that the government was completely ready for it.
“I would like to urge all the leaders from different farmers’ organisations to cooperate and communicate so that the common people should not have to suffer, government is determined in this regard. We have assured them that all the works of administrative nature will be fast-tracked. But in the formulation of new laws, there are so many things to consider. In the coming days, we want to discuss with the farmers’ organisations and to look for any possible solutions,” the Minister said.
Earlier in the day, Munda said that efforts were on to engage in constructive dialogue with the farmers’ unions.
The Minister also expressed readiness to hold discussions considering all viewpoints and appealed for a conducive environment for a dialogue.
“I had already said that our efforts to hold positive discussions with the farmers’ union will continue. Farmers’ organisations must understand that the decision on the law that is being talked about cannot be taken in such a way that people criticise the situation without thinking and understanding in the coming days. Rather, we should try to keep in mind all the aspects of it and discuss it,” he said.
Further, the Union Agriculture Minister urged the farmers’ organisations to avoid actions that disrupt daily life.
“The second thing is that the farmers will also have to pay attention to this, especially the leaders of those organisations who are connected with the farmers’ organisation and are saying such things that do not affect the common life of the people. The life of the people should not be troubled in any way. Creating difficulties for the common people, I think, instead of solving the problem, the problem becomes more complicated. Therefore, I will request the farmers’ organisations today that they should maintain the atmosphere of dialogue…” he added.
Meanwhile, Police lobbed multiple rounds of teargas shells to disperse farmers who were approaching the police barricade at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to resume the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest on Wednesday.
To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting the entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies.
Long traffic jams were seen at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border due to the farmers’ protest and security checks put in place by the authorities.
Rapid Action Force personnel, Police personnel and Riot Control Vehicles are deployed at the Singhu Border in Delhi in view of the farmers’ protest.
In the morning, there were intense security arrangements at the Shambhu border in Ambala, Haryana, as farmers who marched towards Delhi on Tuesday clashed with the police.
The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government. The protest this time has been called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher respectively.
According to the protesting farmers, the Centre promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report.
They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.
The agriculturists have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at four times the collector rate.
Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), linking it with farming, has also been made by the agriculturists .
Also, they have demanded compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for the kin of the deceased.