Govt, farmers fail to break deadlock
NEW DELHI: Talks between the Centre and protesting farmers over the three agriculture laws remained inconclusive on Friday, with the government asking farm union leaders to form an informal group to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest at various Delhi borders, while the unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the laws.
As nearly five hours of talks between 41 unions and three central ministers did not reach a decisive stage in the ninth round of talks at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, the two sides decided to meet again on January 19.
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told farmer leaders at the meeting that the government has been flexible in its approach and urged the same from them.
Incidentally, the tenth round of talks has been scheduled for a day when a Supreme Courtappointed committee to resolve the impasse is also likely to hold its first meeting. A day before that, the apex court is likely to hear a petition against a tractor rally call given by the protesting farmers for the Republic Day on January 26.
After the meeting, Tomar told reporters that two separate deliberations can run parallelly as the farmer unions want to continue their talks with the government and the court-appointed panel has also been set up with an aim to resolve the crisis and a solution can emerge from anywhere.
“Discussions happen at various platforms and a solution can emerge from anywhere...
Our effort is to find a solution at the earliest through dialogue so that the farmers’ protest ends. Farmers are sitting in cold weather amid the threat of Covid-19 and the government is concerned about that also and is therefore engaging with farmers with an open mind,” he said.
The minister said the government will also present its side before the SC-appointed panel whenever it is asked to do so. Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said after the meeting that the unions urged the Centre to repeal the three laws, but the Centre was unwilling to do so.
Farmers union leaders, who had their own langar food during the lunch break, said at the meeting they are committed to continuing holding direct talks to resolve the over-one-monthlong deadlock over three agri laws, even as a committee has been formed by the Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock.
In his opening remarks, Tomar urged farmer leaders to be flexible in their approach as has been done by the government.
Besides Tomar, Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash were also part of the government side.
“Both the government and farmer unions have reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the direct dialogue process,” said All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee member Kavita Kuruganti, who was part of the meeting.
“In his opening remarks, Tomar ji said you keep saying that the government is adamant and making it an issue of ego, even though we have accepted several demands. Don’t you think you should be flexible and not stick to one single demand of repealing the laws,” said Baljit Singh Bali of Punjab Kisan Morcha.
Farmer leader Darshan Pal said there was a good discussion on all three laws. “There is a possibility of some resolution. We are positive,” he added.
Another leader Rakesh Tikait said: “Government has told us that solution should be found through dialogue and not a court. Everyone is of the same view. There is a possibility of some solution.” Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.
On January 8, the eighth round of meeting had remained inconclusive as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for the reforms. However, farmer leaders had said that they were ready to fight till death and their “ghar waapsi” (return home) would happen only after “law waapsi” (repeal of law).
Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms aimed at increasing farmers’ income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the minimum support price (MSP) and “mandi” (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations.
The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out a repeal of the laws. The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.
Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann, however, on Thursday recused himself from the committee. Economists Anil Ghanwat and PK Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.
Tomar said he hopes that unions will take forward the talks based on today’s discussion. He said the government has understood farmers’ apprehensions in the course of several rounds of discussion.