Today, leaders of the farmers demonstrating in New Delhi and nationally, rejected the government’s proffer of amendments on the three new farm laws unacceptable to the farmers. The government presented a 20-page proposal, with their concessions. The farmers are adamant that the laws must be cancelled. They say that they have had five rounds of unsuccessful talks with the government already, and the new laws must go.
The gist of the laws concerns removing certain key protections of price levels and markets for the farmers, which, though inadequate, were in the necessary realm of support for farmers. The new laws are to benefit the corporate agri-food concerns, especially the transnationals. The top 10 largest food concerns in India include the big names of the Anglo-Dutch grouping, e.g. Unilever and Nestlé; Cargill and others are not far behind. .
Spokesman RakeshTikalt for the farm union Bharatiya Kisan Union said: “Farmers won’t go back. It’s a matter of their respect. Will government now withdraw laws? Will there be tyranny? If the government is stubborn, then so are farmers. Laws have to be withdrawn,””
