Farmers’ protest: Farmer Unions up their demands ahead of sixth round of talks with Centre
However, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal on Tuesday met home minister Amit Shah in the national capital ahead of the crucial sixth round of talks with farmers agitating over the three farm laws.
FollowNew Delhi: Government and farmers’ unions will meet at 2 pm on Thursday, as protests against the three farm laws enter day 35.
However, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal on Tuesday met home minister Amit Shah in the national capital ahead of the crucial sixth round of talks with farmers agitating over the three farm laws. They are learnt to have discussed the government’s strategy for the talks.
Ahead of talks, farm unions opposed to the new agri laws revised one of their four demands — replacing “necessary changes” to the proposed electricity amendment bill with a call to withdraw it altogether.
The farm ministry letter said officials would discuss issues related to farmers, signalling the government’s broad strategy to find a solution by addressing points in the legislation that farmers may have objections to.
Previous five rounds of talks, including one each on December 1, 3 and 5 have failed to resolve the impasse. While the Centre has refused to repeal the laws and has instead suggested amendments, the farmers are adamant on a complete rollback.
At least 40 protesting farmers’ unions have been invited for the next round of talks on Wednesday on all relevant issues to find a “logical solution” to the current impasse.
Notably, thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at borders of Delhi for over a month 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.
The three farm laws, enacted in September, have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
