5th round: Farmers’ anger evident as ‘langar’ for lunch again

New Delhi, Dec 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) A clear signal of resentment was witnessed even after the first two hours of discussion as the fifth round of talks between government and farmers got underway on Saturday when 40 representatives of different unions from Punjab and Haryana took a 'langar lunch' outside the venue dismissing invitation to the meal offered by the central government representative once again.

The farmer unions from Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal, Jamoohari Kisan Sabha General Secretary Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Bharatiya Kisan Sabha President Boota Singh, Kulhind Kisan Sabha General Secretary Baldev Singh were among various farmer union leaders who had their lunch on the floor of Vigyan Bhawan.

At the 4 p.m. break, they enjoyed their lunch brought by their suppoerters from the langars outside the venue.

Once again they refused to partake of the lunch provided by the Centre, a signal that the discussion during the crucial meeting is still not as per expectations of the farmers who have announced a 'Bharat Bandh" on December 8 if the matter was not resolved by then.

In the fourth round of talks on December 3, the farmers had refused to have lunch with the government representatives as they thrashed out their charter of demands.

Saturday's talks began at 2 p.m. The refusal to share lunch indicated farmers would not take any favour from the government till their demands were met.

The farmers' demand includes framing of a specific law on Minimum Support Price (MSP), and a written assurance on it, ending the punishment provision for stubble burning, repealing three contentious farm laws passed in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, and stalling the upcoming Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Source: IANS