The 11th round of talks between the Centre and the protesting farmers is underway at Vigyan Bhawan on Friday. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan.
The government in the last meeting held on Wednesday has proposed to put a hold on the implementation of the three farm laws for 12-18 months and also form a panel to find solutions.
However, the farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government's offer and remained stuck to their two major demands -- repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).
Farmers group also affirmed that they will continue the agitation and will also hold tractor rallies on January 26, the Republic Day.
"In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today, the proposal put forth by the government yesterday was rejected. A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, said in a statement on Thursday.
"will not go back to their homes until their demand to repeal the three contentious farm laws is accepted by the government", farmers said after Thursday’s meeting.
Narendra Singh Tomar meeting with Amit Shah
In another related development, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday night met Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Sanyukt Kisan Morcha in a statement refused to accept the government's offer to put on hold the three farm laws.
Congress welcomed farmers decision
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has welcomed farmers unions decision calling Centre’s offer as ‘lollipop’. He tweeted in Hindi, "Stop the daily 'jumlas' and atrocities, just simply repeal the anti-agriculture laws.”
Tractor rally
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the meeting between Delhi police and protesting farmers over the January 26 tractor rally remained inconclusive as the farmers stuck to their demand to take it out on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road. The farmers have said that they will take out the possession peacefully.
In a statement, Kisan unions said, "In the meeting held with the police officials, police requested farmers to not conduct the parade in Delhi while the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade on the Outer Ring Road of Delhi.”
The Supreme Court, on January 11 has already stayed the implementation of the farm laws, till further orders, and the apex court also formed a committee of experts to resolve the deadlock.
The panel has been asked to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders.