Government again invites farmer unions for talks, says it won't be logical to discuss MSP-related demand

NEW DELHI: A day after farmers’ unions rejected the government’s proposal for talks, the Union agriculture ministry once again wrote to them seeking details of agenda for discussion and a date suitable to them for holding a dialogue. This time, the government has given copies of the letter separately to the 40 farmers’ unions, unlike the last time when the letter was addressed to Darshan Pal, state president of Krantikari Kisan Union.

“With reference to the letter dated 23.12.2020 from Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, the government of India reiterates its commitment towards logical resolutions to all issues raised by the protesting farmers,” wrote agriculture ministry’s joint secretary Vivek Aggarwal on Thursday.

He wrote that the government in its December 20 letter had clarified that it was open to talks on all the written and verbal issues raised by the protesting farmers. Referring to farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP), Aggarwal wrote that neither MSP was connected with the three new laws nor there would be any impact on the existing MSP system after their implementation.


“This has been mentioned in every discussion we had and it has always been reiterated that the government was ready to give a written assurance that the existing MSP system will continue,” he wrote.

Aggarwal further said making fresh demands on MSP, which was unrelated to the three laws, and including that issue in the agenda didn’t seem logical. “Still, as mentioned earlier, government is ready to discuss all the issues raised by you,” he wrote.

Earlier in the day, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar met representatives of Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (Baghpat) and Kisan Sena, who declared their support for the three farm laws.

“The delegation has vowed its support and has asked us not to amend the laws under any kind of pressure. These laws are much awaited reforms and would help farmers prosper,” he said.

“Government has been able to show that it has support of farmers’ groups from across the country. If there are groups which are protesting against the laws, then there are groups that are threatening to launch agitation if the laws are changed. We have again invited farmer groups for a dialogue. Regular meetings with pro-reform farmers may put some pressure on protesting farmers to soften their stand,” said a senior agriculture ministry official.