The sixth round of talks between the Centre and farmer's union leaders over farm laws concluded on Wednesday.The next meeting is scheduled to take place on January 4 since consensus was achieved on only two issues.
The Centre agreed to legitimatize stubble burning by excluding farmers from the ambit of the 'Commission for the Air Quality Management Capital Region and Adjoining Ordinance 2020',and drop those provisions of the draft Electricity Amendment Bill,2020, which are intended to change existing mode of subsidy payment to consumers.
There was however no agreement on the two other demands i.e repealing the three farm laws and giving a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price(MSP).The two issues are expected to be taken up in the next round of talks scheduled on January 4.
After nearly five hours of the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and 41-member representatives group of thousands farmers protesting on Delhi borders,Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.The government also offered to set up a committee comprising farmers associations and its nominees.
Considering the chilly weather in Delhi,Tomar also requested the farmer leaders to send the elderly,women and children.
"Government has been saying that MSP will continue.We are ready to give this in writing.But farmers unions feel MSP should get legal status .So the discussion will continue on the legal aspect of MSP and other issues on January 4 at 2 pm",Tomar said.
The government said the meeting was decisive.Farmers union leaders said it was half victory hoping that the other two demands will be accepted in the next meeting.
After the meeting,Union leader Kalwant Singh Sandhu said Wednesday's talks mostly focussed on electricity and stubble burning,while the next meeting on January 4 would focus on the MSP guarantee and the three agri laws.
"There is still a deadlock over the three farm laws being scrapped.We couldn't reach consensus with them on MSP. On issue of stubble burning,government agreed to exclude farmers from fine.On electricity issue,government has taken back the Electricity Amendment Bill,2020",Krantikari Kisan Union President Darshan Pal told news agency ANI.
The government appealed to farmers to end the protest and celebrate the New Year in their homes.
Despite Tomar's repeated assertions,farmers refused to end the agitation."Government has been saying that we should end agitation and form a committee.But we didn't listen to them.We don't take back our movement.We won't form any committee.We'll discuss MSP in the next meet",Balkaran Singh Brar,Punjab President of the All India Kisan Sabha said.
The meeting was held at Vigyan Bhawan with Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar,Piyush Goyal and Som Prakash,who were representing the government side in the talks while the farmer unions sent 41 representatives.
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