A DAY forward of the eighth spherical of talks with farmer organisations to interrupt the impasse over the brand new agricultural legal guidelines, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday met non secular chief Baba Lakha Singh, one of many heads of the Nanaksar Sikh sect primarily based in Punjab. While Baba Lakha Singh, who has been organising langar on the protest websites, mentioned he wished to mediate between the federal government and the protesting farmers, Tomar performed down the assembly and the farm unions mentioned the non secular chief wasn’t talking for them.
Friday’s talks will likely be between a ministerial committee together with Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash, and 41 representatives of farm organisations. The Agriculture Ministry officers Thursday held casual inner talks to organize for the assembly. Sources mentioned earlier than the talks within the afternoon, the ministers might name on Home Minister Amit Shah.
With the federal government insisting that there was no query of agreeing to the farmers’ demand of repeal of the legal guidelines, Minister of State, Agriculture, Kailash Choudhary mentioned extra reforms had been deliberate for the agriculture sector, and these may additionally face protests. “The farm unions are agitating under the influence of arhatiyas (commission agents). This is the beginning. Going forward, the pesticide Bill (Pesticides Management Bill, 2020) and seed Bill will also come. At that time too, they (farmers) can be misguided… So, this is the beginning of transformation for farmers,” he mentioned.
Farmers on a tractor elevate slogans throughout their ongoing protest towards farm reform legal guidelines at Singhu Border, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)
Baba Lakha Singh mentioned he had instructed the farmer unions about his assembly with Tomar, and requested them to get again if that they had any message for the federal government. On what Tomar instructed him, he mentioned, “It would not be wise to discuss anything in public. It would dilute the purpose.”
Asked how the assembly had come about, he mentioned it was not necessary if he was invited or met Tomar on personal. “What is important that I want this matter resolved. I want to work as a mediator between the government and farmers. I had a good meeting with Tomar,” Baba Lakha Singh mentioned.
The non secular chief had prolonged assist to the farmer agitation a lot earlier than they took their protest to the Delhi borders. He additionally claims to have recognized the non secular chief of the Nanaksar sect who killed himself on December 17 close to Kundli, leaving a suicide notice saying he was pained over the struggling of the protesters.
Tomar mentioned that they had not given the non secular chief any proposal. “The government has said that if there is any proposal other than repeal, it can discuss that.” Asked if he’ll meet different non secular leaders from Punjab to mediate with the protesting farmers, the minister mentioned, “I will meet everyone — be they farmers or leaders.”
Tomar additionally claimed to have recognized Baba Lakha Singh from earlier than. “I used to talk to him… But today he came to meet me in Delhi, so it became news.”
Jagmohan Singh Patiala of the BKU (Dakunda) mentioned he was in contact with the 13-14 distinguished unions and their leaders and had talked to the Krantikari Kisan Union and the BKU (Rajjewal). “We have not heard from Baba Lakha Singh. There are 31 unions and I don’t know if he has spoken to one or two unions. Be he hasn’t spoken to the prominent 13-14 unions. Also no union has informed about any proposal from Lakha Singh in any of our WhatsApp groups.”
Jagmohan Singh added {that a} mediator may do little. “We want the laws repealed. What can a mediator do in this situation? If we go back to Punjab without repeal of the laws, we would be like the living dead.”
Baba Lakha Singh, who has his dera in Ludhiana district, is related to the Sant Samaj, which held affect in the course of the Akali Dal-BJP authorities in Punjab. He was among the many invitees for the Ayodhya Ram temple Bhoomi Pujan.
