Stalemate Continues on Repeal Demand; Next Meet on Jan 4
AMN / NEW DELHI
The government and the representatives of farmers have reached some common ground today to resolve farmers’ concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.
After nearly five hours of the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.
Talks will resume on January 4 on the two outstanding issues,” said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar after the sixth round of talks today. Farmers who attended the meet said the government has indicated that it would not repeal the laws, citing the long process required. The 41 farmers’ groups attending the meet said they will respond after discussions.
The government has offered to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill and the penal provisions for stubble burning in the Air Quality Commission Ordinance, which were among the other demands of the protesting farmers. “Talks will resume at 2 pm on January 4 on the two outstanding issues. The farmer unions should ask the elderly, the women and children to return home owing to the winter conditions,” said Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar.
The government is still adamant about not repealing the farm laws, said representatives of the farmers’ groups. It is also not ready for legally enforced support prices for produce and said a committee can be formed to look into it.
“The minister said as a farmer’s son, he can understand the need for a legally enforceable support price. But it is not practicable due to enormous financial implications,” said Kavita Kuruganti, representative of a farmers’ union.
The farmers had gone to the meeting with the idea of flagging alleged frauds committed by traders in Madhya Pradesh. A ₹ 2 crore cheque offered to 22 farmers in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh has bounced, said one of the farmers’ representatives, giving an instance.