Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar along with Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal and MoS commerce and industry Som Prakash speak to media after meeting with farmers' unions leaders over farm laws, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
NEW DELHI/BATHINDA: The Centre and farm unions opposed to the new agri laws narrowed their differences with the former agreeing to decriminalise stubble-burning and shelve the proposed electricity amendment bill even though the “core” issues — repeal of the laws and legal guarantee for higher MSP — raised by the unions remain unresolved.
The renewed discussions between 41 farm unions saw some progress despite the bleak optics that preceded the talks. Importantly, the two sides agreed to remain engaged with the next round of talks scheduled on January 4.