Farmers Protest: Centre open to rolling back 3 key provisions of farm law; Tikri-Jharoda borders closed

NEW DELHI: After the failure of the meeting between the central government and the farmers' representatives on Thursday, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hinted that the government could amend three major provisions in the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act. Both sides have now agreed to meet again on Sunday, according to sources.

After a long meeting with 40 representatives of farm organisations, the Union Agriculture Minister said, “Farmers and unions were concerned that the existing (APMC) mandis in Punjab will be weakened due to the new law. Mandis (market yards) will not weaken, the government is ready to discuss this. The new Act provides for private mandis. They (farm leaders) were of the opinion that since there will no tax in private mandis, it can cause harm to existing mandis…The government will consider it with the view that there is a samyata (level-playing field) for both mandis (APMC and private) so that the interests of one are not affected by the other.”

Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh blocked the National Highway-9 near the UP Gate and those from Punjab and Haryana stayed put at other border points leading to the Delhi as the protests against Centre's three farm bills continued for over eight days.

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According to reports, the Tikri, Jharoda borders have been closed for any traffic movement adding that the Jhatikara Border is open only for two-wheeler traffic.

Meanwhile, Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal returned his Padma Vibhushan today, in a show of solidarity with the protesting farmers. In a letter to the President Ram Nath Kovind, Badal said, “I am who I am because of the people, especially the common farmer. Today when he has lost more than his honour, I see no point in holding on to the Padma Vibhushan honour.”

While the Centre has maintained that the new farm laws, which were introduced in September would eliminate middlemen and enable farmers to sell their produce in commercial markets, farmers fear that big corporations would exercise control over them. Furthermore, farmers also fear they would be denied the right to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, thereby disrupting timely payments.

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