The eighth round of talks between the Centre and farm leaders, over the contentious farm laws, at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan ended on Friday, January 08. Farmers’ protests hence continue with renewed fervour among the farmers and their supporters. The next round of talks between the two will be held on January 15.

Addressing the media after the meeting on Friday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said that the discussion on the laws was taken up but no decision could be made.

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Tomar added, “The government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, they would consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded and it was decided that the next meeting would be held on January 15.”

Farmers stated that they would not relent till  the farm-laws are repealed

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union reiterated the demand for the repeal and stated that farmers would not accept anything less.

“Farmers would not relent before the laws are repealed. We will come on January 15 again. We are not going anywhere. The government wanted to talk about amendments. We do not wish to have clause-wise discussions. We simply want a repeal of the new farm laws,” Tikait said.

Meanwhile, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, said that there was a heated discussion at the meeting, where the farmers reiterated that they do not want anything other than the repeal of laws.

Mollah added, “We would not go to any court, this (repeal) will either be done or we will continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned.”

According to a PTI report, Mollah said that farmers are ready to fight till death and that farmer-unions would decide the next course of action on January 11. Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan told PTI that the government was testing the strength of the farmers but they would not bow down. He added that it seems that farmers would spend Lohri, & Baisakhi festivals at the protest sites.

(Source: PTI)