The ninth round of discussion between farmers demanding the repeal of the three agriculture laws and the centre, held days after the Supreme Court stayed their enactment “until further orders” ended today with no progress towards ending the stalemate. This leads to the continuation of the farmers’ protest.

“It was a 120 percent failure. We suggested that the government remove the changes made to the Essential Commodities Act instead of scrapping it altogether. But the Agriculture Minister has not said anything on this,” farmer leader Dr Darshanpal said.

The next round of talks would be held on January 19, the day the court-appointed committee was likely to start consulting stakeholders to end the impasse.

To increase pressure on the government, the farmer unions have decided to go ahead and intensify their stir with a tractor rally on January 26. “Our proposed Tractor rally will be held, will be held, will be held,” Dr. Darshanpal added.

Leaders of the 40 farmer-unions negotiating with the centre also said that they want continued direct communication with the centre, “not brokers”. They maintain that they will not appear before the panel since the members were already in “favour of the farm laws”.

The government has agreed to engage directly with farmers, but said that if the farmers want they can go to the court-appointed committee as well.

“The government and farmers should continue looking for solutions, formally and informally. Whatever we can agree on during these talks will decide the future course of action. The government is committed to follow the Supreme Court’s order,” Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.

By agreeing to continue talks even after the top court’s decision to appoint a committee, it appears that negotiations may be held on two separate tracks simultaneously. During Friday’s meeting, farmer leaders also raised the issue of continued raids by central agencies on those supporting their movement logistically, and the use of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against them.

The centre, which had earlier blamed the raids on the state government, has said that it will look into the issue, sources said. The next meeting will take place on January 19 at 12 pm. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu and party workers were detained while trying to march towards Raj Bhavan in Lucknow during a protest against the new farm laws.

Farmers blame GOI for the coercive crackdown on the protesters

The farmers also raised concern regarding the alleged police crackdown against those directly or indirectly supporting farmers’ protest, the sources said.

“The government is bent on harassing the people involved in the movement, instead of listening to the demand of the farmers. The social workers who are sending buses to Delhi or providing financial help to the martyred farmers are being harassed repeatedly in the name of the investigation by the NIA – National Investigation Agency. We oppose this mental abuse and we warn the central government to create a good environment for the discussions with farmers,” Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the united front of 40 farm unions, said in a statement after the meeting.

Dharna against farm laws and hike in fuel prices staged by Congress in Rajasthan

The Congress staged a protest in Jaipur against the new farm laws and hike in fuel prices as part of a nationwide call, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asserting that the party will fight until the Centre repeals the legislations. Congress workers and leaders, led by state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra, staged the dharna in the Civil Lines area and tried to march to the Raj Bhavan but were stopped by the police.

Gehlot, who did not take part in the dharna, said that his Congress party stands in solidarity with the farmers in their protest against the farm laws. “Observance of Kisan Adhikar Diwas today by the Congress party is to stand in solidarity with protesting farmers who are opposing black farm laws. The Congress is with farmers at every step in this struggle and we will fight until the laws are taken back by the NDA government,” Gehlot said in a tweet.