Tomar said the government is ready to hold discussions with farmer union leaders with an open mind. Earlier, talks between the farmer unions and the government did not make much headway in breaking the deadlock.

Earlier this week the Supreme Court-appointed a four-member expert panel to hear farmers’ grievances. However, the farmer union dismissed the Supreme Court-appointed four-member panel to end the stalemate. However, the unions have confirmed they will not pull out from talks.

Meanwhile, the farmer union leaders also appealed to all protesters to maintain peace and harmony during the tractor parade on Republic Day. Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the details of the tractor parade in Delhi will be finalised next week after the talks with the government.

The BKU leader also appealed to farmers to act as volunteers and keep an eye on anyone trying to defame the struggle saying “we can win only through peaceful means”.

The three controversial laws are the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

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In his letter, Tomar claimed that several farmers’ unions in the country have “welcomed” the new farm laws, but there are some farmers’ unions camping outside Delhi who have created “confusions” regarding these laws. He also said the government is ready to give a written assurance regarding MSP.

Meanwhile, The Supreme Court postponed the hearing and advised the government to consider putting the farm reform laws on hold. The court once again suggested forming a committee to resolve the deadlock. Also, a bench of the Delhi High Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking removal of agitating farmers from Delhi’s borders.

Farmers’ leaders — Balbir Singh rajewal, JS Dallellwal, Bhangu, Kiranjit Sikh will meet lawyers — HS Phoolka, Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, Colin Gonsalves — today. During the hearing of a plea in the Supreme Court farmers were represented by lawyers Vineet Parikh, Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves and Dushyant Dave, while the central government was represented in court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates Harish Salve and OP Parihar appeared for the petitioner.

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The three farm bills—Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill- were passed by the Lok Sabha recently.
While the farmers and the Opposition have termed the farm bills as “anti-farmer” which would leave them at the “mercy” of big corporates, the Centre says it would open up new opportunities for them to make them “atma-nirbhar [self-reliant]”

In Haryana, the farmers have decided to block all roads, including highways. Additional Chief Secretary (home) Vajai Vardhan has asked the officers to deal with protesters with “tact and patience”. However, he added that “they (protesters) should not be allowed to take law in their hands and prompt action be taken against those found to be indulging in loot, arson or damage to life, property or vehicles”.

While the ruling dispensation appears to have the numbers despite strong opposition from the Congress and other parties to clear the Bills, some key BJP leaders are said to be in touch with various regional outfits to seek support from their Upper House members for these bills.

BJD, SAD urge govt to send farm bills to select committee amid uproar

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