'Don't Test Patience Of Farmers': Protesters Demand Resumption Of Talks After Almost 4 Months Of Hiatus

If the government cares about its farmers and wants their welfare, then it should initiate dialogue with the farmers and accept their demands," the SKM said in the statement, warning the government to "not test the patience of farmers".

Farmers' Protest (Image Source: PTI)

New Delhi: On Friday the umbrella body for the 40 farmers' unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi urging to resume talking about the three farm laws. 

So far, 11 rounds of talks between 40 farm leaders and the government have failed to break the deadlock over the three laws. The last round was on January 22nd. There has been no talks between the two sides since January 26th when the farmers' tractor rally in the national capital turned violent.

In a statement issued by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said, "Today, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has written a letter to the Prime Minister, asking for the resumption of talks with farmers. This letter touches upon several aspects of the farmers' movement, and the ignorant attitude of the government".

In its statment that farmers did say that they don't wish any health hazards related to the pandemic, it "cannot also give up on the struggle, as it is a matter of life and death, and also of future generations".

"Any democratic government would have repealed the three laws that have been rejected by the farmers in whose name these were enacted, and seized the opportunity to provide legal guarantee of MSP to all farmers.....as the Head of the government of the largest democracy in the world, the onus of resuming a serious and sincere dialogue with the farmers lies with you," the letter reads according to PTI.

Don't test patience of farmers

"... More than 470 farmers have been martyred in the farmers movement. Many agitators have had to leave their jobs, education and other work. The government's attitude meanwhile shows how inhuman and careless it is towards its own citizens, the 'anna daatas'. If the government cares about its farmers and wants their welfare, then it should initiate dialogue with the farmers and accept their demands," the SKM said in the statement the report said warning the government to "not test the patience of farmers".

Delhi has seen spells of rainfall since Wednesday as an aftermath of cyclone Tauktae, the farmers have said that it has caused a great deal of "disruption and losses" at the different agitating venues.

"It has been a chaotic situation with regard to food and accommodation, due to the rains. Roads and several parts of the protest sites have been filled up with rainwater," the farmers said according to PTI.

When this government, which "pretends" to do the welfare of farmers, takes "full credit" for increasing production or export in any crop or state, it should also take responsibility for every "human loss and other loss" taking place on the borders of Delhi, the SKM said.

The farmers' body had recently announced to observe May 26 as 'black day' to mark six months of their protest at Delhi borders. To mark the ocassion, Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal appealed to people to raise black flags at their houses, vehicles and shops on May 26th to protest against the contentious farm legislations.

The three farm laws

Since November 2020, thousands of farmers mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur for almost six months protesting the three farm laws. They demand that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be repealed expressing their apprehension that the three agri laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the 'mercy' of big corporations.

However, Centre has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new reforms in agriculture sector. In January, the government had offered to suspend the farm laws for 12-18 months, which was rejected by the farmer unions.

The Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the laws till further orders and set up a committee to resolve the impasse.