Govt says sensitive to issue of farmers; Farmers say Govt arrogant
New Delhi, Dec 9: Leaders of striking farmers on Wednesday described the government as ”insincere and arrogant” about resolving their demands even as the government maintained that it was ”sensitive” to them and their issue.
The farmers who have already rejected the government’s proposals for amendments in the three farm laws, threatened to intensify their agitation if the government did not accept their demands.
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said in a statement “Modi government is insincere and arrogant about resolving farmers demands. All farmers bodies reject old proposals dressed up as new.” The AIKSCC and other farmer organisations reiterated their demand for repeal of the farm laws and said protests would continue with more farmers joining the agitation. District-level dharnas would be held in all states, it said.
“AIKSCC joins farmers organisations in denouncing and rejecting the new proposal of the insincere and arrogant” central government, the statement said and called upon other farmer organisations to organise sit-ins in all districts and state capitals jointly with other supporting organisations.
The statement further said, “Bharat Bandh on December 8 had proved beyond doubt all-India footprint of the popular farmers protests.”
At a press conference held after the meeting of the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, while responding to a question on the status of the interaction with the protesting farmers and the latest proposals sent to them by the Government, said, ”The Government is sensitive to the issues of farmers and so far five rounds of talks have been held.”
Javadekar said ”it is work in progress and its running commentary” cannot be done.
The farmers, who have been agitating for the past 14 days demanding repeal of the three new farm laws, said they would not withdraw their agitation until their demands were met.