Farmer leaders agree to talk to Centre on Dec 29. Talks agenda: repeal of laws

New Delhi: The protesting farmers on Saturday accepted the government’s offer of talks and said that they are willing to come for discussion on December 29, provided the Centre lays down the modalities for repeal of three controversial farm acts, comes out with an action plan on providing a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and also clear its stand on the draft electricity amendment bill and pollution ordinance.

Responding to the letter sent by the government to the 40-odd protesting farmer groups, majority of them from Punjab, the union leaders said that talks could happen on December 29 at 11 am on the modalities of when and how the three farm acts will be repealed.

“The government in its letter has said that it is ready for talks with an open mind, if it is ready, the Centre should stop using the official machinery for spreading disinformation about the farmers and the agitation,” the letter sent by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the conglomeration of 40 farmer groups said.

The farmers, meanwhile, have decided to intensify their agitation and hold tractor march on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on December 30 in protest against Centre’s laws.

Mahendra Singh Tikait, leader of BKU, confirmed that the protesting farmer unions have decided to resume dialogue with the government and have proposed December 29 as the date for the next round of talks.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal has announced a split from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Centre’s new farm laws.

The Confederation of All India Traders Association (CAIT), meanwhile, said that the use of the term ‘bicholiya’ (middlemen) in the course of the farmer agitation is highly derogatory and traders of the country will give appropriate reply at the right time.