Farmers to continue their protest even as the government accepts most of their demands

Thousands of farmers, from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, marched to UP-Delhi border with a charter of demands, asserting they will continue their agitation till the demands are met. To find a solution to the farmers’ agitation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met with a group of farmers belonging to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), along with others. After the meeting, BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the Home Minister has assured and discussed “each and every matter of our issues and they said they will help us.” The government accepted 7 out of the 9 demands of the farmers. The two demands that the government refused to meet are related to farm loan waivers and implementation of the Swaminathan report.

However, the stalemate still remains as the farmers have refused to end their protests as the farmers want all their demands to be met.

CONSENSUS REACHED ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES IN THE MEETING WITH THE HOME MINISTER:

1. GST on agricultural products to be reduced down to 5%
2. Formation of law relating to the Minimum Support Price
3. NGT committee to be formed to look into Farmer concerns
4. Changes in insurance bill
5. Issues regarding payment of sugarcane farmers to be resolved as soon as possible
6. Issues regarding pension for farmers
7. Higher price for agricultural crops

READ | Mega Farmers' Rally: Heavy Police Deployment At Delhi-UP Border As 70,000 Farmers March Towards National Capital. LIVE UPDATES-

HERE ARE THE DEMANDS OF THE FARMERS:

1. Loan waivers
2. Clearance of pending sugarcane payments
3. Implementation of the Swaminathan committee report
4. Free electricity for running tubewells
5. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana should be made applicable to all crops and premium must be paid by the government
6. Assurance of a minimum income for farmers and a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 for small and marginal farmers who completed 60 years of age
7. Rehabilitation of families of farmers who had committed suicide
8. Diesel tractors should be kept out of the ambit of national green tribunal directions that have mandated the removal of all diesel vehicles older than 10 years from the national capital region
9. GST on agricultural products to be reduced down

Even as the government has reached out to the farmers, the political slugfest around the farmers' rally is continuing with the opposition calling the BJP anti-farmers.

While CPM's Sitaram Yechury said, "This Modi government is anti farmers. This is happening due to betrayal of farmers. For this, they are starving. The only thing is this govt should be removed. Forcing kisans to go under death burdens. This is not acceptable and this government has to reverse it's policies or have to go," Congress leader This is so sad that Lal Bahadur Shastri who gave us Jai Jawaan Jai Kisan but this government has completely failed it. But can't this govt allow the farmers to protest peacefully. This govt is not for the farmers: Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill said, "This is so sad that Lal Bahadur Shastri who gave us Jai Jawaan Jai Kisan but this government has completely failed it. But can't this govt allow the farmers to protest peacefully. This govt is not for the farmers."