Agitating farmers in Punjab on Wednesday turned down the Centre’s request for a meeting on October 8 to address their concerns regarding the farm laws, saying the Government is not serious.
The rail roko agitation by farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has entered in 14th days in Punjab. Farmers have been blocking the railway tracks by putting up a tent on the railway lines since September 24.
In Haryana, farmers in Sirsa are squatting on a road leading to Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala’s residence, demanding his resignation from the post against Centre’s agriculture sector laws.
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, the farmers’ body which is spearheading the agitation in Punjab against the Central Government’s three farm laws, on Wednesday said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had invited it for a meeting in Delhi on October 8.
According to Sarvan Singh Pandher, State secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, they got a telephone call from the Union Agriculture Minister on Tuesday and invited them for a meeting on the going farmers’ agitation.
The Ministry has also sent a mail in this regard. Pandher said farmers have decided not to participate in any meeting as the Government is not serious about their concern.
Earlier, the secretary of the department of agriculture, had written to the farmers’ body, inviting it for a meeting at Krishi Bhawan in the national Capital on Thursday to address its concerns over the laws.
“Your committee has expressed concerns over the farm Bills. I would like to invite you to a meeting on October 8 at Krishi Bhawan, Delhi. We would like to address your concerns,” secretary, Department of Agriculture said in the letter.
The farmers have been holding a “rail rook” agitation against the laws in Punjab since September 24. Initially meant to last for three days, the agitation now stands extended till October 8.