Farmers agitation: Talks make little head way

The sixth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmer unions has concluded with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar saying a consensus has been reached between the two sides on two out of four issues.

This is the sixth round of talks after a three-week hiatus. Union Minister Som Prakash — who has been part of the government’s three-member team for negotiations with the farmers — said, “Today’s meeting with farmers will be decisive”. “We want them to celebrate New Year at their homes, with their family and we are going into the meeting with an open heart and mind. The government will try to resolve the issue so that people can go back to their homes,” Som Prakash was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Centre has reaffirmed that it has no intention of scrapping the minimum support price (MSP) regime, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressing that no “ma ka lal (no one)” can take away land from the farmers.
But the organisations demanded that the law be repealed. The farmers demanded compensation from the families of the farmers who died during the strike.

The farmers will continue the talks on January 4, according to reports.

A committee comprising representatives from all stakeholders — farmers’ associations and government nominees — was what the Supreme Court had ordered earlier this month, telling the government that its negotiations are bound to fail.
Farmers’ organizations have warned that if the government continues to be tough, it will even go so far as to disrupt Republic Day celebrations.