Indian farmers’ unions reject Govt proposal to negotiate |
The protesting farm unions have rejected the Indian government proposal to stay the implementation of new farm laws for 18 months to end their agitation. Farmers insist on continuing heir agitation until the three laws are repealed, and a legislation guaranteeing minimum support prices for all farmers is enacted. The decision was taken after a tumultuous five- hour meeting of the general body of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front representing about 500 protesting groups, at the Singhu protest site on the Delhi-Haryana border on 21st January. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar too met Home Minister Amit Shah in the evening at his residence. Tomar will lead the delegation of Indian Ministers at the eleventh round of talks. The unions will inform the govt of their decision at the eleventh round of talks to be held on 22nd January. The unions have reiterated their plan to conduct a tractor parade inside the capital on Republic Day, despite police opposition. In the meeting held with the police officials on Thursday morning, the police requested not to conduct the parade in Delhi. However, the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade on the outer ring road of Delhi. According to Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), Punjab unions conducted a rehearsal on Thursday, with more than 15,000 tractors taking part in 16 districts across the state. Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for almost two months now. After nine rounds of talks ended in a stalemate, the govt offered a significant concession during the tenth round of talks. The govt said that the laws could be kept in abeyance for 18 months while continuing dialogue with them via a joint committee.
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