Farm unions have termed the government’s get in touch with for speak as ‘time pass tactics.’ (Photo source: IE)
Farmer unions are set to meet today to take a decision on whether to accept or reject the invitation from the government for the new round of talks. The government has invited farmer unions protesting against the three agriculture laws for a fresh round of talks. The invitation is in the form of a letter written by the Union Agriculture Ministry and it requests farmers to decide a date for discussion. However, the farmer unions have accused the Centre of wasting time and said that they will take a final decision on it during a meet called on Tuesday.
“Government has already been informed that we are not going to accept any amendment. It is not sincere in its efforts,” Dr Darshan Pal, the president of Krantikari Kisan Union, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. Dr Pal has received the invitation for talks from the government. Another farm union termed the government’s get in touch with for speak as ‘time pass tactics.’
“Government has given us a five-page letter that only describes things that happened in the previous meeting. This is nothing but time-pass tactics. Representatives of various unions will meet today to decide the next step,” Jamhoori Kisan Sabha common secretary Kulwant Singh Sandhu mentioned. Sandhu is amongst 39 farm leaders who have been copied on the letter from Centre that was addressed to Pal.
Expressing his view on the Centre’s letter, Shiv Kumar Kakka, national president – Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, mentioned that it clearly indicates that the government is just indulging in formality and does not want to get in touch with a meeting. “It is not at all serious to hold the next round of talks with farmers’ union. If this is not the case, it could have categorically mentioned the date and venue just as it did earlier,” Kakka mentioned. He added that Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body representing 40 protesting unions, will take a final choice on a response.
Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, common secretary of BKU (Ugrahan), told The Indian Express that his union along with the representatives of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) has decided not to attend any meeting to go over the 3 farm laws. However, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) in a letter to the Agriculture Ministry mentioned that they under no circumstances refused to be component of the discussion.