Union leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Centre

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jan 04, 2021:      Representatives of the farmers protesting at the Delhi borders on Monday arrived at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi hold talks with members of the Central government for the first time this year, where the latter hopes to prevail over the demand to repeal the new farm laws.

 

Delhi: A delegation of farmer leaders arrive at Vigyan Bhawan for talks with Union Government on the three Farm Laws

"We hope there is a breakthrough in this meeting in the new year," says a farmer leader pic.twitter.com/oFG4ERdzFO

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

This comes after the sixth round of discussion on December 30 where both sides reached a consensus on two issues—the rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning. However, the meeting, which lasted for over five hours, failed to break the deadlock over the repeal of three agriculture legislations and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

Ahead of their talks with the government, the farmer leaders reiterated their demands on Sunday. “Our demands remain the same. The farm laws must be repealed. The two amendments need to be rolled back and the government must listen. Our agitation will continue,” Jageer Singh Dalewal, a Bharat Kisan Union member said. They even threatened to shut malls and petrol pumps if the Monday’s talks with the Centre fail. The Agriculture Ministry officials too worked over the weekend to prepare for the next round of talks. An official said the government is “extremely concerned” and wants a “positive outcome”.

On Sunday, the Haryana police fired tear gas shells to stop a group of farmers, mostly from Rajasthan, from moving towards Delhi. Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bawal, said: “The protesters said those who had gone ahead did not have enough provisions. They asked for permission to go to them and set up a langar, and were allowed to do so. However, when they got there, the entire group tried to break through the barricades and move forward.”

Meanwhile, three deaths were reported at the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers have been camping for over a month now. Jagbir, 66, from Jind district, and Jashnpreet, 18, from Bathinda, died in Tikri, while, Shamsher, 44, from Sangrur was found dead inside a truck at Singhu protest site.

Courtesy:Indian Express