New Delhi: As the protest against the Centre’s farm laws in Delhi on Thursday completed one month, farmer unions have decided to intensify the stir while talks between the farmers' organisation and the government still remain inconclusive.
Meanwhile, negotiations were initiated once again by writing a letter on 20 December by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, but on 23 December, the farmers' associations responded to the letter and said that unless the government sends a clear proposal, unions will intensify the stir.
However, the farmer leaders also clarified that they are ready for talks provided the government clarifies its policy on their demands.
After the reply sent by the farmers, on Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture has once again sent a letter to the farmers' organizations in which the government has clarified its stand on the points raised by the United Farmers Front.
Farmer unions protesting against the new farm laws on Wednesday wrote a letter to the government urging it not to repeat the "meaningless amendments" which have been rejected before and to come up with a concrete proposal in writing.
In the letter, farmer unions have asked the government not to question the letter that was earlier written as it was a unanimous decision.
In today's letter, Joint Secretary Vivek Agrawal has said that all the issues raised by the farmers were highlighted by the government in the December 3 meeting, but despite this, if there are some other issues of the farmers, then the government is ready for talks on those issues. This makes it clear that the government is now ready to amend the Essential Commodities Act as well.
Any official response to today's letter from the Kisan Morcha is said to be given after the meeting of all 40 leaders. Reacting to today's letter of the government, Secretary of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, Avik Saha said in his live address on social media that the government has once again reiterated its old point.
Sardar VM Singh, who is heading a group of farmers of Uttar Pradesh, has not been included in the talks till now. VM Singh has been the convenor of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, which has aroused the agitation against the three agricultural laws and is currently heading the National Farmers' Workers Organization, which mainly has influence in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Addressing the farmers today, VM Singh said, "The government is afraid to discuss with us because we have a good sense of understanding of these laws. Uttar Pradesh has the highest yield of paddy but the government does not invite them for talks."
Meanwhile, the protesting farmers have said that they were prepared to celebrate the Republic Day with their own tractor rally on Delhi borders as no end seems to be in sight as the Centre and the farmers remain locked in a stalemate.
ALSO READ: Govt keen to resolve ongoing farmers' protest with MSP assurance
