The News Freedom
Chandigarh, February 8
Following the initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Union government and farmers reached a consensus on multiple issues during their initial round of discussions, according to a press release issued by the Punjab government late night. The meeting convened at the MGSIPA complex, saw the participation of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand, alongside the Chief Minister and representatives from various farmers’ unions.
On the intervention of the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Union government and farmers arrived on a consensus over various issues during the first round of deliberations, said the press release issued by the Punjab government in last night. The meeting was held here at the MGSIPA complex and was attended by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand besides the Chief Minister and representatives of various farmers’ unions.
According to a press release, the Chief Minister said that during the first round of talks, a general consensus emerged on rolling back the cases registered against farmers during the agitation against draconian laws. He said that the deliberations were held in a congenial atmosphere and the Union Ministers gave their in-principle approval to sympathetically consider the demands of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that exemplary punishment was sought against the manufacturers of the spurious seeds so that the interests of the food growers is safeguarded adding that the issue of paddy straw burning was also vehemently raised.
Profusely thanking the Union government and farmers for coming to the table to discuss the issues, the Chief Minister said that this is the right platform for solving the issues. He said that we too don’t want agitation should take place on these issues adding that rather these matters must be sorted out through bilateral dialogue. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that more such discussions will take place in the coming times in the larger interests of the farmers and the people.
The Chief Minister, while presenting the case of the farmers strongly, batted for continuing the MSP regime on the crops by asserting that it is the need of the hour to secure the interests of the farmers. Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister also batted for giving a major push to crop diversification in the country as it will be beneficial for the people. He said that the country today imports pulses from countries like Mozambique and others whereas if farmers get remunerative prices then they can produce these pulses here. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will save the foreign reserves of the country besides bringing the farmers out of the rut of the paddy circle thereby saving the precious water in the state.