Farm Talks: Centre Climbs Down, Unions Must Respond Positively
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-01-20 15:29:45
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
In the 10th round of talks with the farmer's unions, the Centre today proposed to keep the new farm laws in abeyance for 18 months. It also proposed to form a joint committee comprising representatives from the government and the unions to find a way through which reforms can be introduced in the sector without harming the interests of the farmers. It requested the unions to suspend their agitation till the time the joint committee comes up with a solution.
The unions did not immediately agree to the proposal and said that they will go back and hold internal consultations. Although they said that prima facie they still demanded repeal of the laws, they will still hold consultations with their constituents and come back with a response on the government proposal in the next meeting on January 22.
One thinks that given the way the talks were not heading anywhere, this is the best the government can do. The reforms are necessary and the objections of the farmers are also valid. To find a middle ground now when attitudes have hardened on both sides is almost impossible. Hence, it is better to leave it to a joint committee that will discuss what the government wants to do and how it could do it in the best way possible without harming the interests of the farmers.
It needs to be emphasized that the farmer's have, till date and despite several requests from the government, not come out with any concrete proposals against the clauses in the bills. Neither have they formed informal groups of experts among themselves to discuss the laws. From day one, they have insisted on a complete repeal of the laws. Now if they refuse the latest government proposals, it would definitely mean that they are not only against the bills but totally against reforms.
Since the government has softened its attitude and has agreed to suspend the laws for 18 months, the unions too should climb down. They should nominate their representatives to the joint committee to be formed and help in finding a middle ground. They have nothing to fear since after this proposal, the government will not enact any laws without their approval. This is what they wanted in the first place and now that the government given them the opportunity, they must grab it.
