Legal guarantee on MSP key agenda in seventh round of talks between farmers, govt being held today

Representatives of farmers’ unions and three Union ministers representing the Central government are set to hold talks in Delhi on Monday in an attempt to end the stalemate over enactment of the three farm laws and the ongoing agitation by the farmers demanding their repeal.

As per sources, in the seventh round of talks, at least one key demand of the farmers – legal guarantee on MSP – is expected to be on the table for consideration by the government.

A farmers’ leader who is part of the delegation told NH that they were not going with high expectations to the meeting today. “But the government is under tremendous pressure,” he said. “Farmers will not agree on anything less than annulment of the laws,” he reiterated.

Analysts feel the Modi government may give some concessions, but it will not accept the demand for repeal of the laws.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has supported the farmers’ protest and asked the government to repeal the laws. She said that the Modi government must follow ‘raj dharma’.

Earlier, issuing an ultimatum, Samyukt Kisan Morcha – an umbrella of various farmers’ unions, said that thousands of farmers will drive into the Capital on their tractors to hold their own Republic Day parade if their demands are not met by January 26.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is the chief guest at the Republic Day this year.

Meanwhile, a 70-year-old farmer, who was part of the agitation against the farm laws at UP Gate in Ghaziabad, allegedly died by suicide on Saturday. As per farmers’ unions, over 50 farmers have died due to various reasons in the last one month.