Farm Laws: As Farmers Draw A Hard Line, Centre To Hold 11th Round Of Talks Today; Will Govt Give In To Full Repeal Demand?

The 11th round of talks holds great significance as it would clarify the disposition of the government on whether it is ready to bend further or will adopt a firm stance.

Image: PTI

Farm Laws: The impasse over farm laws between the Centre and the protesting farmers is far from over despite clocking around 2 months. The 11^th round of meeting between the two groups is set to take place today where the unions will reportedly tell the government that the offer of stalling the laws for 18 months is not acceptable to them.

The last round of talks had elicited hopes of a breakthrough as the Centre proposed to stall the implementation of the contentious agrarian laws for 18 months , over which the farmers said they would “consider” the offer.

However, they have now chosen to draw the hard line and are sticking to their demand of complete repeal of the farm laws.

The 11^th round of talks holds great significance as it would clarify the disposition of the government on whether it is ready to bend further or will adopt a firm stance. The government, during their tenth round of negotiation with the agitating farmer leaders had proposed to suspend the three farm laws for 1-1.5 years and set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution in the interest of the farming community. A move which was being viewed as some 'breakthrough'. Now that farmers have rejected this offer, all eyes will be on the government's next move on whether it will give in to the demands for complete rollback of the laws.

Tomar Meets Amit Shah:

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday night met Home Minister Amit Shah after the statement from the umbrella body of agitating unions, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, that it has rejected the government's offer to put on hold the three contentious farm laws for one to 1.5 years and set up a joint committee to reach an amicable solution.

However, some farmer leaders said a final decision is yet to be taken on the proposal and the next course of action will depend on Friday's meeting with the government.