The farmers rejected the offers saying it was a conditional one, as the minister had said they should move their protest to a designation spot in the national capital.
Farmers, protesting against the centre’s new agricultural reforms, have rejected Home Minister Amit Shah’s offer for a discussion on their grievances. The farmers rejected the offers saying it was a conditional one, as the minister had said they should move their protest to a designation spot in the national capital if they agreed to talks. The decision by farmers was taken after a meeting this morning, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat, praised the new agriculture laws, stressing that the “agricultural reforms” have “unshackled” the farmers and given them “new rights and opportunities”.
The farmers, contending that the government is imposing conditions to the talks, said they would sit on the borders of Delhi for the time being. Yogendra Yadav, the Swaraj India chief, is also a part of a 7-member committee of farmers that took the decision to turn down the offer.
The farmers expressed fear that the protest spots the government is suggesting can become jails, an apprehension that started after the Delhi Police suggestion that they be jailed in stadiums.
Earlier on Saturday,
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to thousands of farmers who have been camping in and outside Delhi to protest against the farm laws passed by the Centre recently and said: “The government is ready to deliberate on every problem and demand of the farmers.”
In a video message, Mr Shah said the Centre will hold talks with the agitating farmers’ unions on December 3 and if they want to hold discussions prior to the date, they will have to shift their protests at a government-designated venue.
“If farmers’ unions want to hold discussions before December 3 then, I want to assure you all, that as soon as you shift your protest to the structured place, the government will hold talks to address your concerns the very next day,” the Home Minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
