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India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Jan 08: The eighth round of negotiations between the protesting farmer unions and the Centre on Friday hit the roadblock with farmers sticking to their demand of repeal of the farm laws and the Centre insisting that it cannot and will not take the laws back. The two sides are going to meet again of January 15.
“Discussion on the laws was taken up but no decision could be made. Government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, we will consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded and it was decided to hold next meeting on 15th January,” Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after the meet.
“There was a heated discussion, we said we don’t want anything other than repeal of laws. We won’t go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or we’ll continue to fight. Our parade on 26th Jan will go on as planned,” said Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha after the meet.
Reportedly, not much discussions could take place at the meeting and the next date has been decided after keeping in mind a scheduled hearing of Supreme Court on January 11.
The apex court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to farmers’ protests.
Several rounds of between the two sides held earlier have failed to resolve the deadlock, with the government firm the laws won’t be repealed, while the farmers are adamant on a complete rollback.
Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws, despite the cold weather and heavy rains.
‘Ghar Wapsi only when Law Wapsi’: Farmers tell govt
Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms aimed at increasing farmers” income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the minimum support price (MSP) and “mandi” (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations.
The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out a repeal of the laws. While several opposition parties and people from other walks of life have come out in support of the farmers, some farmer groups have met the agriculture minister over the last few weeks to extend their support to the three laws.
The government had sent a draft proposal to the protesting farmer unions last month, suggesting seven-eight amendments to the new laws and a written assurance on the MSP procurement system.
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