Chennai: After yet another round of talks with the farmer unions fell through, the government will consider all the conflicting issues, before the next discussion on Saturday.
According to sources, the government side, led by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, assured the group of nearly 40 farmer leaders that all their valid concerns would be discussed and considered with an open mind, but the other side stuck to their demand of repealing the three ‘hastily-passed’ farm laws, saying there were several loopholes and deficiencies.
On whether the government is ready to amend the three contentious laws, Tomar said, “I am not a fortune teller. When we will meet the day after, we hope to move towards a resolution”.
“There should not be any doubt in anyone’s mind. Still, if farmers have any worries on that front, we would want to assure them that the new laws do not present any threat to the MSP system”, he said.
However, the farmers are of the opinion that just legalising the Minimum Support Price ‘will not serve the purpose’.
Also, the government is reportedly considering the demand to approach the courts in case of a dispute over contract farming. Under the current rules, such a dispute can only be resolved by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
Meanwhile, stepping up their stir, thousands of protesting farmers from Uttar Pradesh blocked National Highway-9 near the UP Gate, while thousands from Punjab and Haryana stayed put at other points of the National capital. They are camping out at four busy entry points- Singhu, Noida, Ghazipur and Tikri- to press their demands.
On the other hand, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has returned his Padma Vibhushan award in protest against the Centre’s new farm laws, even as Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has also threatened to return his Padma Bhushan.