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This story is from January 15, 2021

Farmer unions-govt talks end in deadlock, next round on Jan 19: 10 key developments

Farmer unions-govt talks end in deadlock, next round on Jan 19: 10 key developments
Mounted 'Nihangs' during farmers' ongoing agitation over the new farm laws, at Singhu border in New Delhi on Friday.
NEW DELHI: The negotiations between the protesting farmers and the government remained inconclusive after the ninth round of talks held between them in the national capital on Friday. While the farmers were unrelenting in their demand of repealing the three farm laws, the government suggested that they should form an informal group to prepare a concrete proposal over the Acts.
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The tenth round of talks would be held on January 19.
Here are the key developments of the day:
1. The government asked the protesting farmers to form an informal group to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting on January 19 to end the long-running protest at various Delhi borders, but unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts. As nearly five hours of talks between 41 unions and three central ministers did not reach a decisive stage in the ninth round of talks at Vigyan Bhawan, the two sides decided to meet again the next Tuesday. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told farmer leaders at the meeting that the government has been flexible in its approach and urged the same from them.
2. Incidentally, the tenth round of talks has been scheduled for a day when a Supreme Court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse is also likely to hold its first meeting. A day before that, the apex court is likely to hear a petition against a tractor rally call given by the protesting farmers for the Republic Day on January 26.
3. After the meeting, Tomar told reporters that two separate deliberations can run parallely as the farmer unions want to continue their talks with the government and the court-appointed panel has also been set up with an aim to resolve the crisis and a solution can emerge from anywhere. "Discussions happen at various platforms and a solution can emerge from anywhere... Our effort is to find a solution at the earliest through dialogue so that the farmers' protest ends. Farmers are sitting in cold weather amid the threat of COVID-19 and the government is concerned about that also and is therefore engaging with farmers with an open mind," he said and added that the government will also present its side before the SC-appointed panel whenever it is asked to do so. In his opening remarks, Tomar urged farmer leaders to be flexible in their approach as has been done by the government. Besides Tomar, railways, commerce and food minister
Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Parkash were part of the government side.
4. Urging farmer unions to form an informal group among themselves to prepare concrete proposals to be discussed in the next meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar said detailed discussions took place at the ninth round of talks but could not reach a decisive stage. The two sides, therefore, decided to meet again on January 19 at 12 pm, Tomar told reporters after the end of the meeting that lasted for nearly five hours. "Talks took place over three farm laws in a cordial atmosphere and detailed discussions took place on some issues, but couldn't reach a decisive stage," he said. "We suggested they can form an informal group of people who can understand the laws better and prepare some concrete proposals, detailing what are farmers' expectations and what clauses are problematic for them, which the government can consider with an open mind," the minister said. He further said the government is hopeful of discussions reaching some decisive stage at the tenth round of talks on January 19.
5. Farmers union leaders, who had their own langar food during the lunch break, said at the meeting they are committed to continuing holding direct talks to resolve the over-one-month-long deadlock over three agri laws, even as a committee has been formed by the Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock. "Both the government and farmer unions have reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the direct dialogue process," said All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee member Kavita Kuruganti, who was part of the meeting. Farmer leader Darshan Pal said there was a good discussion on all three laws. "There is a possibility of some resolution. We are positive," he added. Another leader Rakesh Tikait said: "Government has told us that solution should be found through dialogue and not a court. Everyone is of the same view. There is a possibility of some solution."
6. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not respect farmers and wants to tire out those protesting against the centre's new agri laws. He also said that the talks that are being held with the protesting farmer leaders are part of the government's delaying tactics. Farmers will not relent till the laws are repealed, said Rahul Gandhi at Jantar Mantar, where he along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined party MPs in their demonstration against the legislation. "The talks are being held only to delay. PM Modi thinks he has the power and will tire the farmers out, but he is mistaken. Narendra Modi does not have basic respect for farmers. He does not even care if over 100 farmers die. He thinks he has the power and the protesting farmers will tire out after some days, but they will not relent," Rahul Gandhi told reporters. "The farm laws will have to be repealed. They (the government) do not know the strength of farmers, they will not relent. PM Modi does not understand this. Had he understood this, the government would have taken back the laws today itself," he said.
7. Narendra Singh Tomar hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi's borders and said even the leaders of his own party do not take the Gandhi scion seriously and laugh at his remarks. Addressing the media after the meeting with the farmers, Tomar said Gandhi's statements and actions are laughed at even within his own party. "The Congress manifesto in 2019 itself had promised these reforms and therefore, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should tell us whether they were lying then or are lying now," he said.
8. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes the farm bills passed by the Indian government have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms, but a social safety net is needed to protect those who might be adversely impacted during the transition to the new system, a spokesperson of the global lender said in Washington. Gerry Rice, director of communications at the IMF, said the new measures will reduce the role of the middlemen and enhance efficiency. "We believe the farm bills do have the potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India," Rice said at a news conference. "The measures will enable farmers to directly contract with sellers, allow farmers to retain a greater share of the surplus by reducing the role of middlemen, enhance efficiency and support rural growth," he said. "However, it is crucial that the social safety net adequately protects those who might be adversely impacted during the transition to this new system," the spokesperson said responding to a question on the ongoing protests by farmers against the laws in India. This can be done by ensuring that the job market accommodates those that are impacted by the reforms, he said. And of course, the growth benefits of these reforms will depend, critically, on the effectiveness and the timing of their implementation, so need to pay attention to those issues as well with the reform," Rice said.
9. Congress workers held protests in Chandigarh in support of farmers agitating over the new agri-marketing laws, with one group facing a water cannon as it tried to push past police barricades. The Congress had planned to gherao the Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans as part of a nationwide protest called by the party over the new farm laws. Haryana Congress leaders were detained by police as they marched towards the state Raj Bhavan. A separate march by the party's Punjab unit was also stopped. Police used a water cannon against workers from the party's Chandigarh unit as they tried to march towards Punjab Bhavan. Several of them were taken into custody. State Congress chief Kumari Selja, Haryana in-charge at AICC Vivek Bansal, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Kiran Choudhary were among the Haryana unit party leaders detained by the Chandigarh police. They were taken to different police stations and later released.
10. The Himachal Pradesh Congress staged a protest outside the Raj Bhawan in Shimla in support of farmers agitating against the centre's new agri laws. The state unit of the Congress observed the day as Kisan Adhikar Divas on the directions of the All India Congress Committee. State party president Kuldeep Rathore said 'annadata' of the country has been sitting on the borders of Delhi for the last 51 days in protest against the three agricultural laws enacted by the Narendra Modi-led government. Rathore said the centre has made every effort to suppress the farmers' movement by unfair means and is just buying time and indulging in unfruitful talks.
(With agency inputs)
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