NEW DELHI: Farmer unions rejection of the government s latest offer to put the three contentious agriculture laws on hold and their insistence that they will agree to nothing short of a complete repeal seem to have muddied the political waters for the BJP, but some party leaders feel their obdurate stand makes it clear that they may be playing into the hands of vested interests. Several party leaders said that protesting farmers all-or-nothing approach and their warning to further intensify the agitation may actually help the government in the battle of perceptions, especially when it has become clear that the Centre made a big climbdown by offering to put the laws on hold for up to two years and when the Supreme Court has also formed a panel to resolve the crisis.
The government s negotiations with protesting farm unions hit a roadblock on Friday as the farmer leaders stuck to their demands for a complete repeal of three farm laws they find pro-corporate and a legal guarantee for MSP, even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months.
Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the 11th round could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting as the government also hardened its position saying it is ready to meet again once the unions agree to discuss the suspension proposal. This followed a big climbdown made by the Centre during the last round when they offered to suspend the laws and form a joint committee to find solutions.
New Delhi, Jan 20: The government on Wednesday offered to amend the three contentious farm laws at their 10th round of talks with protesting unions but farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the Acts and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.
Farm Law Talks: Farmers Turn Down Centre s Offer to Suspend Laws for a While or Amend Them
The 10th round ended without resolution, with farmer leaders and the Centre only agreeing on the next date for meetings.
Farmers union leaders at the 10th round of meetings on January 20. Photo: PTI
Agriculture20/Jan/2021
New Delhi: The 10th round of talks between protesting farmers’ union leaders and the Centre ended with farmers sticking to their demand for a complete repeal of the three contentious laws. Several news outlets and the news agency
PTI have reported that farmers have turned down offers by the Centre to amend the three laws or suspend them for a year or two.
A day before the government s crucial 11th round of talks with protesting farmers, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday night met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah, sources said. The meeting followed a statement from the umbrella body of agitating unions, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, that it has rejected the government s offer to put on hold the three contentious farm laws for one to 1.5 years and set up a joint committee to reach an amicable solution. However, some farmer leaders said a final decision is yet to be taken on the proposal and the next course of action will depend on Friday s meeting with the government.