Traders demand representation in proposed joint committee over farm laws

New Delhi, Jan 21 (KNN) As the farmers agitation has completed more than 55 days in Delhi & NCR region, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Thursday appealed to the Government that traders should also be given representation in the proposed joint committee.

CAIT National President B C Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that the farm laws are not connected with farmers alone. About 1.25 crore traders across the country are working in Mandis and these traders facilitate farmers for not only in selling their crops but also help them in many ways at the time of their need.

''These traders provide direct employment to more than 4 crore people. The farm laws talk about removing this important component of the supply chain. What will happen to the livelihood of these large numbers of people? Will they be out of their livelihood merely at one stroke? Therefore, the interests of these people also need to be protected,'' they added.

 Both Bhartia & Khandelwal appealed to the Government that traders should also be given representation in the proposed joint committee.

''If any agreement is achieved without taking the traders into confidence, the farm Act issue will remain in controversy and all exercise of the Government may prove to be futile. We look for a comprehensive solution of the contentious issue and legitimate interest of all stakeholders needs to be protected,'' they asserted.

The traders' body also said that so far due to agitation in Delhi & NCR region has caused a business loss of about Rs 50 thousand crores which is quite alarming at a time when post COVID, the business activities were picking up.

Commenting upon the proposal of the Government, they said, “the fresh proposal of the government to keep farm laws in abeyance for one & a half year and constituting a joint committee with farmer leaders, is quite  justified & reasonable which indicate the willingness of the government to resolve the crisis and therefore now the farmers should accept this proposal in the larger interest of farming community and large number of others sections engaged in Agri trade and call off their agitation.''

''If still farmers do not accept the proposal of the government, it will be construed that they are not interested in a solution but certain divisive forces are more willing to create problems,'' they added.