Centre hardens stand, tells farmers ‘consider proposal’

11th round of talks fail as farmers seek repeal of laws, MSP guarantee Farmers made to wait for 4 hrs, 2 sides sat face-to-face for 25 min

We gave the best proposal but you could not arrive at any decision. If you arrive at any conclusion please let us know, we will discuss again

The government’s negotiations with the protesting farmers’ unions hit a roadblock on Friday as the farmer leaders once again stuck to their demands for repeal of the three agriculture laws and a legal guarantee for MSP, even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the laws on hold for 12 to 18 months.

Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, at Friday’s meeting the two sides could not even reach a decision on the next date as the government also hardened its position saying it is ready to meet once the unions agree to discuss the suspension proposal.

On Thursday, the government offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. After internal consultations, the farmers’ unions decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands.

Even though the 11th round of talks lasted for nearly five hours, the two

— Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister

This is an insult to farmers. Agriculture minister asked us to consider the govt’s proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings.

sides sat face to face for less than 25 minutes. The talks were held in two sessions — the morning session lasted for about 15 minutes, after which the Central ministers left the meeting room. After about four hours, the ministers again came and held discussions for less than 10 minutes.

“This is an insult to farmers. When agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar came, he asked us to consider the government’s proposal

and said that he is ending the process of meetings,” said S.S. Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, adding that their agitation will continue peacefully.

Mr Tomar told kisan unions that the government is ready for another meeting if farmers want to discuss the proposal on suspending agriculture laws for a while. He told the unions that “the government was grateful for their cooperation”.

The minister reiterated

— S.S. Pandher, Farmer leader

that there was nothing wrong in the three laws. “We gave the best proposal but you could not

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— PTI Farmers leaders eat lunch during the 11th round of talks with the Central government on the new farm laws at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.