BIG: Centre prepones meeting with farmer leaders to Dec 1 amid protests against farm laws

In a massive development, Centre has preponed meeting with farmers' unions to December 1 amid protests against agrarian laws passed by Parliament. While two rounds of talks have alrey been held, next interaction was supposed to take place on December 3. Making this anuncement on Monday night, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated that schedule was changed keeping winter and COVID-19 crisis in mind.

Only those representatives of farmers who attended initial meeting will be allowed to participate in fresh deliberations at 3 pm in Vigyan Bhawan on Tuesday. Tomar again appealed to farmers to t follow agitation mode. A day earlier, farmers' unions agreed to talk to Centre only if conditions are imposed. A huge section of farmers has t only refused to proceed towards designated Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari but also threatened to block 5 entry points to national capital. 

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PM Modi reaches out to farmers

Union government's latest move comes few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly reached out to farmers during his public dress in Varanasi.  Allaying apprehensions of farmers regarding Mandi system and Minimum Support Price, he accused opposition of spreing lies. Assuring farmers that Centre is continuously trying to resolve ir concerns, he expressed confidence that farm laws will facilitate an increase in ir incomes. 

PM Modi remarked, "I want to tell farmers that w work is t being done with deceit but with holy intent akin to that of Ganga. reality of those spreing rumours on basis of apprehensions is coming to people’s tice continuously. When farmers understand ir lies on one issue, y start spreing rumours on ar issue. y do this 24/7. country’s farmers understand this. Those farmers who still have concerns and questions, government is continuously trying to answer and resolve m. I am confident that farmers who have some concerns about agrarian reforms will take vant of se reforms in future and increase ir income."

What are agrarian laws? 

Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 aims at freeing  farmers from constraints of state Agriculture Produce Market Committees whereby y would be able to sell ir produce anywhere. Meanwhile,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 protects and empowers farmers to eng with processors, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters for farm services. This entails provision of contract farming. On or hand,  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 specifies that supply of foodstuffs including cereals, pulses, potato, edible oilseeds, and oils shall be regulated only under exceptional circumstances. 

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