Govt offers to suspend farm laws for up to two years, proposes joint panel to discuss legislations

The meeting between the government and the farmers, for the first time, ended on a slightly positive note. 

During the 10th round of meeting, the government proposed to suspend the implementation of the three laws for up to two years and set up a panel comprising farmers to study the objections. The farmer leaders, though insisted on repeal of the three laws, told the government that they will consider the proposal among themselves and return to announce their decision during the next meeting scheduled for January 22.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the farmers that government will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court on suspension of laws, and set up a panel which will consider clause by clause objections and the MSP. The government will adopt the report of the panel. 

“We said that government is ready to put on hold the farm laws for one or one and a half year. I'm happy that farmer unions have taken this seriously. They will consider and convey their decision on January 22,” Tomar said.

The farmer unions will discuss the proposals among themselves and take a decision. However, it will be a tough call for the unions to agree to the government proposal given the massive sentiment on the ground. Several lakhs of farmers have been mobilised for January 26 tractor parade. The union leaders are likely to be under pressure as no one would want to be seen as hobnobbing with the government or selling out. 

“We will consider the proposal, discuss among ourselves and then come back for the meeting,” Dr Darshan Pal, a union leader, said.

The government is keen to avoid the confrontation with the farmers as they were insisting on taking out a tractor march. The mass mobilisation would become a show of strength on the Outer Ring Road, which could bring the capital to a standstill. The unions, though insistent on the parade, also want to avoid confrontation. With each passing event, they are under pressure to take even a bigger step, which has its limitations. The dharna at Delhi’s borders will complete two months on January 26, already the longest protest of such intensity. 

The 10th round of meeting, which was supposed to be held on January 19, was postponed by a day by the government. The meeting was held on the birth anniversary of Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all his cabinet colleagues had wished the people on the occasion to highlight the “special relationship” with Sikhs. Tomar said during the meeting that he hoped for a solution on the auspicious day. 

The ball again is in the court of farmers.