Published 20:07 IST, February 11th 2021
SC panel interacts with govt officials of 18 states to resolve standoff over Farm Laws
The Supreme Court-constituted committee interacted with government officials of 18 states and UTs on Thursday to resolve the standoff over the farm laws.
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Supreme Court-constituted committee continued its deliberations on Thursday to resolve standoff over farm laws. Even as BKU president Bhupinder Singh Mann has opted out of panel, three or members- agricultural ecomist Ashok Gulati, Pramod Kumar Joshi- Director, South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute and Shetkari Sanghatana president Anil Ghanwat interacted with government officials of 18 states- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Presh, Assam, Dra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa, Himachal Presh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Delhi, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nu and Uttarakhand. y t only gave ir frank views about agrarian laws but also gave suggestions to improve implementation of laws.
Earlier on January 12, apex court stayed implementation of farm laws and me it clear that MSP system shall continue. committee has been directed to solicit views of farm unions and Centre. Moreover, this panel will submit its recommendations pertaining to farm laws to SC within two months from date of its first sitting. However, Samyukta Kisan Morcha has decided against participating in proceedings of SC-formed committee.
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standoff over farm laws continues
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. 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.
At present, talks between Union government and farmers' unions have come to a standstill. This is owing to fact that farm associations refused to agree to Centre's proposal for suspending implementation of aforesaid legislation for one and a half years. While last round of talks lasted for nearly 5 hours, farmers claimed that two sides sat face-to-face for less than 30 minutes. divide between two sides furr exacerbated on January 26 after farmers' tractor rally turned violent resulting in 510 Delhi police personnel getting injured and extensive dam to public property.
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17:50 IST, February 11th 2021