Sixth round of talks between Centre, farmer unions end on positive note; next meeting on Jan 4

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that we have requested old people, women, and children should be asked to return to their home due to severe cold conditions.

Image courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Sixth round of talks between the Central government and farmer unions on Wednesday (December 30) ended on a positive note. The next meeting will take place on January 4, according to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar said that Kisan Union leaders have agreed to continue the talks. 

The Union Agriculture Minister said, "the first issue was an ordinance related to the Environment. Unions were apprehensive about farmers being included along with Parali (stubble burning) ones. Both sides agreed to farmers' exclusion," adding "Today's talks were held in a very good environment and it concluded on a positive note. Consensus on two out of four issues was reached between both sides."

Tomar said that Farmers feel that if reform is introduced in the Electricity Act, they`ll suffer loss, adding "Unions wanted that electricity subsidy given to farmers by states for irrigation should continue. The consensus was reached on this issue also."

The Union minister said, "About new farm laws, we have assured them to address all their concerns. We are happy that the Kisan Union leaders have maintained discipline and peace. I have requested them that old people, women, and children should be asked to return to their home due to severe cold conditions."

Kisan leaders are hopeful of the outcome in the next round of talks. They, however, added that the movement will continue till the three new farm laws are repealed.   

The government also offered to set up a committee on better implementation of MSP procurement system and also put on hold proposed laws on electricity charges and stubble burning penal provisions, but union leaders stuck to their main demand of the repeal of three contentious farm laws as their sixth round of negotiations continued for more than four hours.

The meeting between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands of farmers protesting against three farm laws on borders of the national capital saw the two sides breaking the bread, but not the ice.

While the ministers joined the farmer leaders to share their langar (community kitchen) food during the lunch break, the union representatives accepted the beverage offered by the government during the evening tea break. 

Ahead of the meeting, the delegation of farmers from several states, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they want the government to repeal the new farm laws. "Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back," said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting.

Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who was seen heading to the meeting from the Ghazipur border (UP-Delhi border), hit out at the opposition saying the opposition was weak and are not supporting the cause as they should.

"This is the reason farmers have had to come on the roads. The government doesn`t fear them. They should sit in pitched tents and stage protests on roads against the farm laws," Tikait said.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Som Prakash said that the government would go into the meeting with an open heart and mind and would try to resolve the issue so that people can go back to their homes for New Year.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of Delhi since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.