The two factions of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the farmers’ collective which spearheaded the year-long agitation against the farm laws, on Tuesday separately decided against joining the 28-member committee on farm-related issues as the terms of reference make no mention of a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price for all crops.
The government, while notifiying the formation of the committee on Monday, had said the SKM would have three representatives.
In a formal response, the larger SKM faction said it rejects the panel and has decided not to nominate a representative. Apart from the fact that there is no intent to discuss an MSP guarantee law, the SKM believes the panel is dominated by pro-government interests.
“The chairman of the committee is former agriculture secretary Sanjay Agarwal, who drafted all three anti-farmer laws. He is accompanied by Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog, who was the main advocate of these three laws,’’ the SKM said.
The SKM (Non-Political), a group of 60 organisations, sent a similarly worded letter to the Prime Minister, articulating concern over the absence of any mention of an MSP law and also about the one-sided character of the committee.