Amit Shah’s talks with farmers fail, meeting on Dec.9 cancelled

Federal Home Minister Amit Shah’s talks with Farmers’ leaders failed and the meeting scheduled for December 9 was called off.

The Home Minister’s invite, indicating that the government is engaging with the farmers at the highest level, came as a nationwide shutdown or Bharat Bandh called by protesting farmers hit road and rail traffic in parts of the country, blocked many highways and shut down markets, affecting supplies.

The farmers refused to accept the government’s offer of amendment in the laws, sticking to their demand for a complete scrapping. The big meeting scheduled for December 9 with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar – the sixth since the protests started – has been called off.

Farmers’ unions were given a presentation on the bills on Tuesday and a proposal will be sent to farm leaders today with written amendments that the government intends to carry out.

“No meeting will be held between farmers and the government tomorrow (Wednesday). The minister has said a proposal will be given to farmer leaders tomorrow (Wednesday). Farmer leaders will hold a meeting to discuss the proposal,” Hannan Mollah, the general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, told reporters after the meeting on Tuesday.

The farmers’ meeting will be held at noon at the Singhu border, where thousands have been camping for more than 10 days, demanding scrapping of the three new laws which they fear will shrink their income and leave them at the mercy of corporates.

“We’ll hold a meeting over the draft that will be sent by the centre. That meeting (talks with the government) is cancelled. The draft will be discussed and the further course of action will be decided. We hope things will be clear by 4 or 5 pm today” Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, said.