Farmers warn of intensifying protest as they reject Centre's proposals
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New Delhi: Turning back to the Centre's proposal given to them in writing, the farmers' body protesting against the three farm laws, termed the offers made by the government as "insulting" and reiterated that they will block all roads one by one if the laws are not repealed.
As conveyed by the Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, Union agriculture ministry sent a draft proposal to 13 farmers' union leaders on Wednesday. The said proposal guaranteed that the minimum support price (MSP) for procurement of crops will not end with the laws.
However, the farm union leaders refused to give in and said that they would not backtrack from the original demand to repeal the entire controversial laws.
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, the All India Kisan Sangarh Coordination Committee, a pan-Indian umbrella organisation comprising 259 farmers' units, issued a joint statement to declare their rejection of the proposal.
"We reject the government's proposals," said Dr. Darshan Pal, president of Kranitkari Union.
Tejinder Singh Virk of the Terai Kisan Union of Uttarakhand expressed his disappointment with the Centre's proposed amendments, particularly in terms of MSP.
Tejinder said that the proposal maintains that the prevailing system of MSP purchase will be retained and the government will provide a written guarantee in the regard. However, the farm union leader pointed out, no farmers outside Punjab and Haryana get MSP for the crops.
The farm union leaders have called all north Indian farmers to head to Delhi on 14 December. On the same day, farmers in other parts of the country will stage demonstrations in support of the protest at the national capital.
The leaders also called to gherao BJP offices across the country as part of the protest on 14 December.
The farmers also called the nation to boycott Jio services and boycotting of malls and products owned and marketed by Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, on 14 December.
Meanwhile, major opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Sitaram Yechury met President Ram Nath Kovind seeking the withdrawal of the anti-farmer laws.
