The seventh round of talks between union leaders and Centre have ended without any breakthrough. The farmer-union leaders stuck to their demand of withdrawal of the farm-laws but the Centre proposed a panel to take the matter forward. Next round of talks will take place on January 8.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that he remains hopeful of a solution in the next meeting on January 8, but asserted that efforts need to be made from both sides for a solution to be reached. The farm-laws allegedly have serious loopholes which can harm the farmers’ livelihood. The laws were passed in the middle of the pandemic in a parliament which had no question hour, which many suggest was to benefit the corporate lobbyists like Ambani and Adani groups who have significant operations in Agro-business and are looking forward to augment and strengthen them.

As per reports of PTI, the first hour of talks focused only on the three laws and the other key demand of farmers for a legal guarantee on the MSP procurement system did not come up for discussions. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who participated in the meeting, told that the first hour of discussion remained focused on the three laws.

Tikait asserted the strong conviction of the farmers that unless the three laws are repealed, the protests would not stop. Protesting farmers who have been camping at Delhi borders for the last 39 days braving bone-chilling cold and now rains have threatened to intensify their protest if their two major demands, the repeal of the three new farm laws and the legal backing for the minimum support price (MSP) are not accepted by the government.

West Bengal government to pass anti-farm-bill resolution

West Bengal Chief Minister has said that her government will pass anti-farmer bill resolution in the West Bengal Assembly. Earlier, Kerala Assembly too had passed a resolution against the farm laws.

Hardening their position ahead of the seventh round of talks with the government, protesting farmer unions had said that they will take out a tractor parade towards Delhi on January 26, when the country will celebrate Republic Day, if their demands are not met. Addressing a press conference, the union leaders had said that time has come for “decisive” action as their demands have not been addressed by the government yet.