Opinion | Farmers should guard against those shouting “Modi Teri Qabr Khudegi”

After another marathon round of talks between farmer leaders and the Centre on Thursday, there appeared to be some signs of a breakthrough. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar indicated that the government was willing to amend some provisions of new farm laws. The government proposed to strengthen and modernize the APMCs (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees), popularly known as ‘mandis’. It also agreed to the suggestion of farmer leaders for compulsory registration of all private traders who intend to purchase crops from farmers on contract basis. The government also agreed to amend the provision in law  to allow farmers to approach higher courts for appeal in contract farming disputes.   The Centre also agreed for equal taxes for APMC mandis and private markets. The Centre also offered to make stringent provisions to stop corporates from acquiring lands belonging to farmers. The government also offered to give in writing its solemn promise to continue with the minimum support price (MSP) system. Both sides agreed to meet again on Saturday though the mood of farmer leaders at the end of Thursday’s meeting did not appear to be  quite positive. The Centre clearly told them that repealing the three new farm laws was unlikely, while the farmer leaders insisted on scrapping the legislations.   At Thursday’s meeting, the farmer leaders had given to the government their objections running into 12 pages, and almost all the points were taken up for discussion. Before the meeting began, the Union Ministers welcomed the 40 farmer leaders with folded hands, but the latter appeared to be aloof. They declined the government’s offer for lunch and brought their meals from gurudwara. They also declined to have tea offered by the government.

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