Centre-farmers talks: Stalemate continues, next round on Jan 15

The eighth round of talks between the government and farm union leaders on Friday remained inconclusive too as the Centre told the protesting farmers that it will not repeal the three laws- which were passed by the parliament in September. The next round of discussions will be held on January 15. The meeting concluded within few minutes. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar has told farmers that the farm laws have been created for the entire country, not just for a specific state and since the farmers everywhere else are supporting the laws, the farm leaders should end their agitation. The farmers have said that they will not accept anything other than the repeal of laws.

According to sources, the Centre has told farmers to wait for the Supreme Court verdict in the matter. “If it says farm laws are illegal, we will take them back, but if it says otherwise then farmers must end their agitation,” the sources quoted the government as saying in the meeting.

Addressing a press conference last week, farm union leaders had announced a series of programmes, including the said tractor march, which they said will be carried out to make the government repeal the three farm laws. They had also said that on January 26, on the occasion of Republic Day, thousands of farmers will enter the national capital and carry out a “tractor parade.”