Ready to restart talks but govt must stop defaming protests: Farmers

New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (coordination committee of the farmer unions) on Wednesday responded to the proposal sent by the central government, saying they are ready to talk but the government must stop defaming their protest movement.
“We want to assure you that the protesting farmers and farmers’ organisations are ready for talks with the government and are waiting for when the government should proceed with this open mind and clear intention,” a letter addressed to the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture from the unions said.
“You (Government) are requested to send a concrete proposal in writing instead of repeating the rejected proposals for such baseless amendments so that it can be made an agenda and talks can be restarted at the earliest,” the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said.
The letter further stated that it is not hidden from anyone that the government is trying to portray the “peaceful, grassrooted and lawful struggle” of the farmers of the entire country as “separatists and extremists” and paint their protest in sectarian and regional colours and portray them in absurd and irrational forms.
“The truth is that the farmers have negotiated cleanly, but the government has resorted to such tricks,” the letter read.
Six rounds of talks have already taken place between the farmer leaders and the government but the same didn’t bear any result.