The 11th round of meeting between the protesting farmers' unions and the central government remained indecisive after the agriculture minister said they have given all best options to the farmers and will not repeal the three farm laws. The farmers' leaders after the meeting announced that they would go ahead with their proposed tractor march on Republic Day.
The way the ministers treated us, we felt “insulted” said the farmer's leaders. "The minister made us wait for three-and-a-half-hours. This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the government's proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings," SS Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told news agency ANI.
He further added that the farmer's protest will continue peacefully.
Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day will take place as planned, earlier.
"The government offered to put the implementation of the farm laws on hold for two years and said that the next round of meeting can take place only if farmers' unions are ready to accept the proposal, “ Tikait said after the meeting ended.
The farmer's unions have already declined the Centre's proposal before the meeting.
By now there is no clarity on the next date of the meeting between the Centre and the farmer's leaders.
"No date for the next meeting has been fixed by the government," said Surjeet Singh Phul, state president of BKU Krantikari (Punjab).
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar during today’s meeting “yelled” that putting a stay on the farm laws for 12-18 months is the only best option the government can give to the farmers.
Meanwhile, Farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait, however, said the unions will meet again to consult on reconsidering the proposal offered by the government, but they will stand firm with their demands to repeal the laws completely.
What did Narendra Singh Tomar say at Friday’s meeting?
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has asked the farmers to reconsider Centre’s proposal as it is in the interest of farmers and the country and urged them to convey their decision by Saturday.
The government has given the best, solution-oriented proposal to farmer organizations, Office of Union Agriculture Minister NS Tomar said.
"The government has always maintained it is ready to consider alternatives to repeal. Our proposal is in the interest of farmers and of the country," Tomar said.
The government has made many proposals to end the protest, but "no resolution is possible when the sanctity of agitation is lost", added Tomar.
The agriculture minister also said that some external elements are trying to provoke the farmers and put fire in the ongoing demonstration.
"Some external force is trying to ensure agitation continues. Those forces are against farmers' interests. We should remain hopeful. Let's wait till tomorrow to hear farmer unions' final decision," Narendra Singh Tomar said.