New Delhi, Dec 24: The joint front of the agitating farmers Wednesday again turned down the offer of the Central Government for resolving their issues related to the farm laws across the table. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) representing the agitating farmers said that they would not accept anything less than complete withdrawal of the three farm laws. Amendments to these acts were not acceptable, they said.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu Border on Wednesday evening, Yogendra Yadav, President of Swaraj India, said that the farmers were ready for talks but were waiting for ‘concrete proposals’ from the government and not just the repetition of already rejected proposals. Yadav read out from a letter sent by SKM to the Union Agriculture Ministry responding to the talk offer by the Centre.

Yadav also alleged that the government was treating the farmers as political adversaries and not addressing to their genuine concerns. The government should invite the farmers for talks with an “open mind, a big heart and honest intentions”, he said.

Another farmer leader Yudhveer Singh, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union observed that the government was taking the “protest lightly” and “playing with fire’. All India Kisan Sabha General Secretary Hannan Mollah also said that the farmers have come all the way to Delhi to resolve their genuine and serious concerns.

All said and done, it appears that the farmers’ agitation is completely hijacked by the politicians like Yogendra Yadav and his ilk who mostly belong to the leftist or communist ideology. The Congress has also joined hands with them. For all these parties, this came as a godsend opportunity as they are facing the existential crisis in the present political situation.

The Prime Minister has time and again clarified and assured the farmers that the APMCs will continue to function henceforth and that the MSP will not be abolished. Besides, he has also assured them that their land will not be claimed by anyone under the contract farming law. The Union Agriculture Minister, Commerce Minister and the Law Minister have also assured the agitating farmers. But the farmers are not taking these assurances in the right earnest.

This adamant attitude and continued rejection of the government’s initiative has raised serious question mark about their ulterior motives. The left and the Congress leaders certainly do not want the agitation to end as it is not in their interest. But the farmers are coming under their influence is a serious issue that needs to be addresses forthwith. It is a good omen that farmers from other states have expressed their support to the new farm laws and those farmers who were benefitted by these laws have come forward and shared their success stories allying the fears of the farmers.

The government is seriously interested in doubling the income of the farmers. The Prime Minister has time and again reiterated his resolve and took steps accordingly. The PM Kisan Sanman Yojana providing Rs. 6000/- to each farmer is one such scheme. Over 9 crore faremrs would receive the installment of this fund in their accounts directly on December 25 coinciding the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This is the way Narendra Modi government functions in the interest of the farmers and the agitating farmers need to understand this.

The political leaders who have no future have joined hands to hijack this agitation are acting as main obstacle in striking out amicable solution to farmers’ issues. They are using these farmers as pawns to further their political agenda which is nothing but “Anti-Narendra Modi” agenda. The farmers from other parts of the country need to play a vital role in making their Punjab counterparts understand and see through this conspiracy of these opportunist political leaders and save their face.