Farmers turn down talks with centre

As farmer protests intensifies in Delhi, a three-member team from central ministry including agricultural minister Narendra Tomar, Piyush Goyal and junior industry minister Som Prakash held talks with 35-member team of farmers on Tuesday afternoon. When the centre suggested formation of a committee to sort out differences, farmers turned it down. Stating that this is not the time for formation of a committee, farmers highlighted on the need for three bills to be withdrawn at earliest. They asserted that protests would continue if their demands are not met. Next meeting will be held on Thursday.

Farmers, who started marching from borders of Delhi, set towards the city over past few days to show their protests against the three farm bills introduced by the central government in parliament. They alleged that the bills were introduced without their consent nor did people in power consult them on how to go about with the new rules. Central ministers had earlier refused to hold talks with farmers, but later agreed.

Farmers from not just Punjab but Haryana, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh were amongst those who protested which has now been receiving International attention.

Amongst those who supported farmers were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who is the first international leader to talk about the protests on a public platform. But India reacted sharply to Trudeau stating that he was ‘ill-informed’ and comments were ‘unwarranted’. As support for farmers intensifies, a group of top sportspersons and coaches from Punjab said that they are ready to return all their medals and awards to show their solidarity towards farmers.

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