Farmers threaten to go on 'Maun Vrat', next round of talks on Dec 9

Farmers group go on maun vrat in meeting ask Govt to answer in yes or no to their demand for repealing new farm laws Union leadersSeeking to break the deadlock over protests against new farm laws the government on Saturday told representatives of agitating farmers that their concerns are being looked into but the union leaders stuck to their demand for repeal of the legislations and threatened to walk out of the talksThe government side however managed to convince the farmer leaders to continue the talks which began at 230 PM earlier in the dayThis is the fifth round of talks between the government and representatives of farmers thousands of whom are protesting at various borders of the national capital against what they claim are the laws meant to end the mandi system and minimum support price procurement system to give for benefits of corporatesAs the meeting resumed after a tea break in the evening during which the farmer leaders had their own food and tea they threatened to walk out if the government was not willing to scrap the three laws enacted in SeptemberWhile the government managed to convince them to continue with the talks sources said some kind of division emerged among the participating farmer leaders on various issues proposed by the ministersAnother source said the government also offered to take back cases filed against farmers for stubble burning as also the cases filed against some farmer activistsLater in the evening the ministers began talking to smaller groups of 34 farmer leaders out of the total 40 representatives present thereAt the beginning of the meeting at Vigyan Bhawan Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the group of farmer unions that the government is committed to cordial talks and welcomed all positive feedback on the new farm laws sources saidLater Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash an MP from Punjab addressed the leaders in Punjabi and said the government understands the sentiments of PunjabWe are ready to address all your concerns with an open mind a source quoted Parkash as telling the union leadersThe government side also included Railway Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal besides senior officialsIn his opening remarks Tomar who is leading the talks for the Centre said the government is committed to peaceful talks with farmers leaders and does not intend to hurt farmers sentimentsThe agriculture minister welcomed feedback on the three farm laws while agriculture secretary Sanjay Agarwal summarised the proceedings of the previous four rounds of talks with farmer unions during the meeting sources saidThe two sides are believed to have discussed contentious issues like provision of dispute resolution and registration of traders in proposed private mandis under the new lawsAhead of the meeting Tomar and Goyal along with senior union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliberate over proposals likely to be made to the agitating groupsModis decision to hold deliberations with Union ministers who have so far been the face of the Centrersquos efforts to end the farmersrsquo agitation signifies the importance the prime minister has attached to defuse the crisis sources saidOn Thursday talks between the Union ministers and representatives of agitating farmers had failed to yield any resolution as the union leaders stuck to their demand for the repeal of new farm laws despite the government offering to discuss and consider with an open mind some key points of concern raised by farmers in the three new lawsFarmers on Friday announced a Bharat Bandh on December 8 and threatened to intensify their agitation and block more roads leading to the national capital if the government does not accept their demandsThe three farm laws have been presented by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the countryHowever the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and scrap the mandis leaving them at the mercy of big corporates The Centre has maintained the MSP and mandi systems would continue and would be rather further improved and strengthenedUndeterred by the winter chill thousands of farmers have stayed put at various border points of Delhi since November 26 as part of their protest against the Centres farm lawsBefore the start of the meeting an All India Kisan Sabha functionary said only repealing of the new farm laws will end the stalemateAt this juncture we have transport unions retail businesses and other associated groups who have shown solidarity with us Our movement is not just about farmers AIKS finance secretary Krishna Prasad saidOutside the meeting venue employees of the Indian Tourist Transporters Association ITTA which has supplied vehicles for the transit movement of the protesting farmers were seen holding a banner which read We support farmers and shouting slogans backing the peasants agitationI belong to a farmers family I can relate to their fears We had farmland at Mahipalpur and now you see T3 terminal out there We are supporting the protesting farmers in their cause IITA president Satish Sehrawat told PTIHe said the association is providing transportation facility to the farmers since their first meetingBharatiya Kisan Union Rajewal state general secretary Onkar Singh Agaul said Our demand remains the same that the government should withdraw all three farm laws We want MSP should be guaranteed through lawHe also sought scrapping of electricity amendment law and an ordinance on stubble burningBJP leader from Punjab Surjit Kumar Jayani while entering Vigyan Bhawan along with his party colleague Harjeet Singh Grewal hoped the issue will be resolved soonKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday 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