Talks between the government and protesting farmers remained deadlocked on Friday, with the government saying they can be back at the table if the unions accept their proposal to suspend the new farm laws for 18 months.
“We can have a meeting tomorrow with the unions if they reconsider and agree to our proposal. We don’t have a better option than this. The proposal is in the best interests of both farmers and the nation,” said Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar after the eleventh round of talks ended inconclusively.
Tomar was trying to put the onus on the agitating unions after they remained firm of their stand that they wanted nothing short of a repeal of the laws which they allege would put them at the mercy of corporates
The latest talks were held a day after the farmer unions, after hours of deliberations among themselves, rejected the Centre's offer to suspend the three farm laws for one and half years while both sides thrashed out the contentious parts.
The strain was visible right from the beginning of the day with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar hitting out at the farmer unions for talking to the media about their decision even before they got back to the government.
After 20 minutes both sides took a long three-hour break, and talked again for less than ten minutes before dispersing without setting a future date for talks.
Gurnam Singh Chaduni, one of the union leaders, later told reporters that there was no hope for an early resolution as of now. The farmers said they will go ahead with preparations for the tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day.
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6 Comments on this Story
 | Kamlesh Bhatt1 minute ago Govt will take back laws if the farmers all over country want this. But farmers of most states except too are liking the laws as it is beneficial to them. The Punjab farmers should agree to 1.5 year moratorium as suggested by Govt. |
| bv subash24 minutes ago it's expected. there's a separate agenda for someone in this country to create havoc's in the country during national festivals/functions. we have witnessed during trump's visit. we have to wait and see. put the nation first. |
| Kaizad Jehangir51 minutes ago Farmers are demonstrating arrogance . First they dont realise whats good or bad for themselves . just sticking to 1 point demonstrates that they do not want a solutions. GOvt is RIGHT when they opine that they should discuss the Acts section by section to ascertain whats amicable between 2 sides and whats not . 2. they do even agree to the govt request to enforce the acts after 18 months . Its correct that govt stick to its stand . let farmers realize their stupidity . farmers are all over india . ( why succumb to the diktat from farmers of punjab |