Deadlock continues as both farmers and Centre refuse to budge

Another round of talks between farmer unions and the Centre has failed to break the deadlock over farm laws. While the government remained firm on its stand that it will not repeal the contentious laws, the farmers union reiterated the same demand.

Farmer protest talks deadlock continues Centre stand same-VPN

Asianet Newsable English

New Delhi, First Published Jan 4, 2021, 8:34 PM IST | Last Updated Jan 4, 2021, 8:34 PM IST

Following the meeting with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait announced that their will stick to their demand for "the repeal of the laws".

Another Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Yudhvir Singh said that the government wanted the farmers to discuss the law point-wise.

"We rejected it and said that there is no point in discussing the laws because we want a complete rollback of the laws. Govt intends to take us towards amendments but we will not accept it," he said

Claiming that the government is "under tremendous pressure", All India Kisan Sabha General Secretary Hannan Mollah said: "We all said that our demand is that the laws must be repealed. We don't want a discussion on any other topic except on repeal of the laws. Protests will not be withdrawn until the repeal of laws."

According to reports, the two sides did not even discuss the other key demand for a legal guarantee to the Minimum Support Price procurement system.

After the meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "We wanted farmer unions to discuss three laws clause-wise. We could not reach any solution as the farmer unions remained adamant on their stand of repealing the laws."

"I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting on January 8 and we will come to a conclusion," he said.

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