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This is an archive article published on December 4, 2020

Farmers’ Protest: Opposition lends weight, urges Centre to rethink laws, call House session

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi before the start of talks between farmer representatives and Union Ministers, urged the Centre to rethink its stand on the new farm laws.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS, Commerce, Som Prakash and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. (PTI)Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS, Commerce, Som Prakash and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. (PTI)

From urging the Centre to rethink its stand on the newly enacted farm laws to calls for repeal of the laws and a short winter session of Parliament to discuss the farmer protests, the Opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress mounted pressure Thursday on the Government to find an amicable solution to the agitation at the gates of Delhi.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi before the start of talks between farmer representatives and Union Ministers, urged the Centre to rethink its stand on the new farm laws. He also appealed to farmers to find an early solution to the problem which, he said, was adversely impacting Punjab’s economy and posed a “serious danger to national security”.(Follow Live Updates here)

“The problem needs to be solved quickly,” the Chief Minister told Shah. He told reporters later that neither he nor the Punjab government were involved in mediation with farmer groups in any way, and its for the Centre and the farmers to resolve the matter. He reiterated that the Centre should protect the MSP regime and continue with the Mandi system. He asked the Union Home Minister to listen to the farmers with an “open mind” to resolve the standoff soon.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee threatened to launch a country-wide agitation if the “anti-farmer” laws were not withdrawn.

“I am very much concerned about the farmers, their lives and livelihood. GOI must withdraw the anti-farmer bills. If they do not do so immediately, we will agitate throughout the state and the country. From the very start, we have been strongly opposing these anti-farmer bills,” Banerjee said in a Twitter post.

“We have called a meeting of the All India Trinamool Congress on Friday, December 4. We will discuss how the Essential Commodities Act is impacting common people and resulting in skyrocketing prices. The central government must withdraw this anti-people law,” she said.

TMC sources said she has asked her party to take to the streets against the farm laws, and show solidarity with the protesting farmers. In Kolkata, the protests will be held next week under Banerjee’s leadership, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, wrote to Speaker Om Birla, urging him to convene a short winter session of Parliament to discuss the farmer agitation and other important issues like the border standoff with China and the status of the Covid-19 vaccine.

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Read| Barring MSP, Centre open to rolling back 3 key provisions of farm law

“There are a number of very important issues that the nation is facing in the present times. The most notable among them are the ongoing farmers’ agitation, status/preparation of Covid-19 vaccine, the economic slowdown, unemployment scenario, the continuous standoff on India-China border, unabated ceasefire violation on Indo-Pak border. There is a need for a thorough and transparent debate/discussion on all the above mentioned important issues,” Chowdhury said in his letter to the Speaker.

“I shall request you that a short Winter Session may be convened taking all Covid precautions. This will help the nation… to understand and appreciate current important issues that the country is grappling with,” he said.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said, “I think this is an excellent initiative, which will enjoy the support of most of the Opposition MPs. In a Parliamentary democracy, we should not be disregarding the one constitutional forum that exists to deliberate on such vital issues.”

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Opinion| Farmers’ apprehensions about role of mandis, terms of procurement under new laws need to be addressed

Continuing to target the Government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said “accepting anything less than scrapping of the three black farm laws will be deceit to farmers and the country”. His party colleague Ashwani Kumar said: “The writing on the wall is clear. If not urgently resolved to the satisfaction of farmers, the situation could become ugly and the protest irreversible. Such a result could prove a grave threat to internal stability and security of the nation.”

Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape. Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis. The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage. Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting. Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics. National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections. Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum. Bureau Leadership: directing a team of reporters to cover the most critical developments in the nation's capital. Authoritativeness & Trust: Manoj’s authoritativeness is grounded in his nearly 20 years of field experience and his leadership role at a legacy newspaper. His long-standing association with The Indian Express underscores a reputation for consistency, editorial integrity, and rigorous reporting standards required of a Bureau Chief. Find all stories by Manoj C G here. ... Read More

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience  Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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