New Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur has said the Centre was always ready for talks with the farmers. Emphasising that the dialogue was the only way to address concerns, he said on Wednesday that farmers were the nation’s ‘Annadatas’.
“Earlier also we were ready for discussions, still we are ready and in the future also we will be ready. We don’t have any problem, they are our ‘Annadatas’…,” he said.
The Union minister said that despite the increase in the prices of fertilizers across the world, the Centre has prevented the rise in fertilizer and urea costs, and the government provided subsidies amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore.
He also said that the Centre worked continuously in the last three years and brought Nano Urea. The minister said, “I want to tell you that in the 10 years of UPA, Rs 5.50 lakh crore were spent on MSP for wheat, paddy, and oilseeds.” “The Modi government has allocated Rs 18 lakh 39 thousand crore, which is more than 3.50 times,” Anurag Thakur further said.
On February 19, after the fourth round of talks, the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarvan Singh Pandher said that farmers will be continuing the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest on February 21. They will be discussing the government’s proposal on MSP in the next two days. Based on the outcomes of which, the decision on the march will be made. Pandher also mentioned that the government and farmers’ union will work towards finding a joint solution.
Meanwhile, another farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal stated that the government proposed a plan supervised by two government agencies for MSP on pulses, maize, and cotton. The farmers will be discussing this proposal with their forums and experts before reaching any conclusion. The “Delhi Chalo” march will continue till their demands are met. Discussions on other demands are yet to take place.
Further, Union Minister Piyush Goyal also highlighted positive discussions with different farmer representatives. He also mentioned that cooperative societies like the NCCF and NAFED will be forming contracts for the next five years, buying products from farmers on MSP without any limits on the quantities.
Piyush Goyal also stated that the farmer leaders will announce their decision on government proposals by tomorrow. The ongoing demands from farmers include legal guarantees for MSPs and loan waivers. Talks between ministers and farmer leaders on February 8, 12, and 15 have remained inconclusive.
Further detailed reports awaited in this matter.
Ms Kalinga