Talks On Between Farmers And Government
The seventh round of talks between the 40 farm leaders and the government is underway in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The talk was initiated with a two-minute silence for those farmers who lost their lives in the protest. In the last round of meetings on December 30, both sides had reached a consensus on two out of four demands of the farmers - the rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning. The farmers have asked for an expected guarantee module with an assured written MSP in the ongoing talks. This is the first meeting of this year aimed at breaking the 40-day deadlock over the repeal of the three farm laws that were passed by the Parliament in September 2020.
The farmers have been protesting on the national capital borders for the last 40-days amid the bitter cold and rains and threatened to intensify their protest if their two major demands are not accepted in today's meeting. The farmers have taken a hard line on the issue, saying they will hold a tractor rally on the GT-Karnal road on January 6 if their demands are not met. "If the government doesn't agree to our demands, we will start marching towards Delhi from Shahjahanpur border next week," Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav had earlier said.
Earlier in the day Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait claimed that a total of 60 farmers have so far lost their lives during the ongoing farmers' protest against the new farm laws. He further said that one farmer is dying every 16-hours and it is the responsibility of the government to answer.
'Clause by clause' discussion on three farm laws is expected to take place between the two sides if farmers remain adamant on their demand to repeal the laws. Sources say that the government is likely to discuss farm laws clause by clause as it did initially before the MSP issue.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month demanding repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
While the Congress party has been supporting the farmers agitation, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to accept "all the demands" of the protesting farmers. In a tweet Kejriwal lauded the farmer's resolve in continuing the agitation despite the chill, rains and cold weather. "Salute to the resolve of the farmers staying firm on the roads despite rains and cold. I appeal to the Centre to accept all the demands of the farmers and repeal the three black farm laws in today's meeting," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
