The central government on Tuesday formally offered agitating farmer unions a draft proposal that addressed five of their six demands. It included withdrawal of cases against farmers, provided they end their agitation which has seen blockades on major roads at Delhi’s borders.

NDTV reported that a 5-member farmers committee is said to meet on Wednesday at 10:30 am.

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The unions, responding to the offer, insisted the government must first initiate the process of withdrawal of cases. They said a decision will be taken on the ongoing protests on Wednesday only after getting clarifications on this issue and certain other points.

On Tuesday, anticipation of a settlement was heightened by a rare convergence in the Supreme Court when solicitor general Tushar Mehta and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing farm unions, jointly sought deferment of hearing on a plea for clearing of blockades on Delhi borders. The court put off the PIL by more than a month, noting, “This is probably the first time the SG and Bhushan are making a joint request.”

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The Times Of India reported that the ministry of home affairs (MHA) wrote to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and gave a five-point proposal which includes setting up a committee on MSP with representations from the SKM and other organisations, withdrawal of cases with a condition to first end the agitation, and in-principle agreement on compensating the kin of the farmers who died during the year-long protests.

The ministry elaborated that withdrawal of cases would also pertain to those registered in the UTs (Delhi and Chandigarh) and by the central agencies such as railways.

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On the other two demands, the ministry assured the unions that the government would not introduce the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament without consulting all stakeholders. Besides, it said, the government has already decriminalised the stubble burning provisions (Section 14 and 15) in the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Law.

The unions would need to take a call on the MSP issue as it is highly unlikely that the Centre would agree to a legal guarantee and a committee would certainly have representations from pro-reform unions like the Shetkari Sanghatana.

The 5-member committee will meet on the proposal sent by the central government. Thereafter, the farmer leaders’ team will go to Singhu Border at 2 pm for a meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.