Farmers’ protest: Farmer unions agree to resume talks with govt on Dec 29, but on conditions
However, they made it clear that their demands for Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee and the modalities to repeal the three laws should be part of the agenda.
FollowNew Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is ready to hold talks on “issues, logic and facts” with farmers protesting against the new farm laws, farmer unions announced resumption of talks on December 29.
However, they made it clear that their demands for Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee and the modalities to repeal the three laws should be part of the agenda.
Following deliberations on the government offer for talks, farmer unions, under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, told the press at Singhu border Saturday — the protest at Delhi’s gates is now a month old — that talks with the government will be held at 11 am Tuesday.
Though the agriculture ministry has agreed on a wide-ranging discussion, it has indicated its unwillingness to consider scrapping the laws it says benefit a large majority of farmers.
Saturday's announcement from the farmers' groups has come after multiple rounds of talks held between the government and the protesting farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have failed to break the ongoing impasse.
The proposal for talks has come amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging the groups to return to the negotiation table. On Saturday, addressing a rally in Assam, Shah had urged the farmers to find a solution to the problems through talks.
The unions also gave a call to farmers to beat utensils in protest while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be delivering his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday.
Farmers are protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
