The tenth round of talks between the Centre and farmers is currently underway at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The previous nine rounds of formal talks between the Centre and 41 farmer unions have failed to bear any concrete results to end the long-running protest at Delhi's borders.
The framers have remained stuck with their main demand for a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price. While the Centre is insisting farmers discuss all the laws clause by clause and offered to make amendments in the laws.
The Supreme Court last week stayed the implementation of these laws and named a four-member panel to negotiate between the farmers and the Centre. To resolve the issue. Still, the Centre has kept its old stance to talk over the laws with the farmers.
Govt & Farmers Unions meeting.
The farmer representatives today reached Vigyan Bhawan to continue dialogue with the government.
The government side is represented by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhury.
Farmers need to ensure the dignity of Republic day: Narendra Singh Tomar
Ahead of the talks, Tomar expressed hope that protesting farmer unions will discuss alternatives other than the repeal of the laws and appealed to them not to organise the tractor rally on Republic Day.
"I am hopeful that farmers will discuss alternatives so that we can reach a solution," Tomar had said while making an appeal to the farmers not to go ahead with their proposed tractor rally on Republic Day in the national capital.
"I want to appeal to farmers that January 26 is our Republic Day and the country has got independence after much sacrifice.
"Ensuring that the dignity of the Republic day is not affected is the responsibility of farmers also. I hope they will reconsider their decision," he said.
SC-Farm Law-appointed committee holds first meeting
The four-member panel appointed by the SC consists of:- Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Bhupinder Singh Mann, Shetkeri Sangathana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, South Asia Director for International Food Policy Research Institute Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.
BKU president Mann has recused himself from the committee, saying he will not do anything that is not in the interest of the farmers.
The SC-appointed committee had held its first meeting in New Delhi yesterday and discussed how to go forward with convincing the farmers. The panel members said it will talk to the farmers, stakeholders and take their viewpoints relating to the farm laws.
Also Read: SC refuses to reconstitute committee, police to decide on tractor rally
The protesting farmers have proposed to take out tractor march on Republic Day.
The Delhi Police had submitted a plea in the Supreme Court court on the tractor rally, to which the SC today said it will not pass any order on this since the decision on it has to be taken by the police as it is a law and order issue.