Large-scale protests by domestic farmers caused by the reform of India’s agricultural law continue. The protesters have agreed “in principle” to start a new round of negotiations with the government on December 30, but still insists that the government should withdraw the bill and ask the central government of India to clarify the agenda of the negotiations.
According to India Today on December 28, Abhimanyu Kohar, a member of India’s “United Farmers’ Front” (Samyukt Kisan Morcha), said that the party had agreed to participate in the central government’s proposed meeting on December 30. Meeting.” United Farmers Front” is a loose coalition of more than 40 peasant organizations.
According to the report, the central government of India has invited about 40 farmers’ organizations to participate in the talks on December 30.
This will be the seventh round of negotiations between the government and protesting against farmers.
On September 20, the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) passed the Agricultural Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 and the Farmers (Authorization and Protection) Price Guarantee Agreement and Agricultural Services Act 2020, plus the previously passed Basic Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, which Laws have relaxed the control of crop prices, and farmers say it will harm their livelihoods, saying that it will only benefit large enterprises and leave farmers at the mercy of large enterprises.
On the other hand, the government stressed that agricultural law reform can bring more opportunities and income to farmers.
Subsequently, India’s anti-new agricultural law protest broke out on November 26 and has continued to this day.
Despite the government’s promise to revise the bill according to the needs of farmers, the two sides are still deadlocked in protest against the farmers’ insistence on the government to withdraw the plan.
The English magazine Diplomat, which focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, commented on December 25 that agricultural reform is necessary for Indian farmers, but the government led by Indian Prime Minister Modi must do more to address farmers’ concerns.
