Farmers-govt talk remains inconclusive, both sides refuse to budge from their stand; next meet on Dec 3

The meeting between the representatives of 32 farm organisations and a high-power committee comprising three union ministers, ended up without any conclusion on Tuesday as both sides refused to budge from their stand.

While the government claimed the talk was “good and fruitful”, farm leaders rejected the government's claim and vowed to extend the protest in the coming days.

However, both sides agreed to meet for the next round of talks on December 3.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, after the talk said that the government will continue its dialogue with the farmers.

“Our movement against Farm laws will continue and we will definitely take back something from the government be it bullets or peaceful solution, said Chanda Singh, a member of the delegation who met the union agriculture minister.

According to farm leaders who attended the meeting, talks between farmers and government remained inconclusive because both sides failed to reach an understanding on three points:

• The government proposed to form a small committee to study the three contentious farms laws, farm leaders rejected it
• Farmers said MSP is non-negotiable, the government did not say anything on it
• Farm leaders said new farm laws be repealed, the government did not agree

The government also gave a detailed presentation to the farmers’ leaders on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Roop Singh Sanna, after the talk, said, “The government proposed to form a committee to study and discuss issues related to the three farm laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.”

Farm leader and head of the Swaraj Abhiyan Yogendra Yadav categorically said the talk between the farmers and the government failed. He also blamed the government for “dividing and distracting the movement”.

“Farmers thwarted the government's conspiracy in the meeting and came out,” said Yadav. Yadav was not invited to the meeting.

After the talk, Shiv Kumar Kakka who is considered close to the RSS said that the farmers will expand their movement.