Govt-farmers meet LIVE: Consensus reached on stubble burning, power tariff

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: The government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers' demands regarding the three farm laws. Stay tuned for latest updates

Farmers' protest LIVE updates Day 34: The government and farm unions reached some common ground on Wednesday to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4. He said the union leaders kept insisting on repeal of the three farm laws, but the government side tried to explain them the benefits of the Acts and sought to know specific problems faced by the farmers.

The government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers' demands regarding the three farm laws.

Thousands of protesting farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points -- Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri -- for the past 33 days, demanding a repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

The three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

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11:11 PM

US Congressman welcomes Indian govt's efforts to engage with protesting farmers

A US Congressman has hailed the Indian government's efforts to engage with the protesting farmers to "ensure" that the legislation reflects their input and interests as well. India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and politicians on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.

Addressing the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, Congressman Andy Levin said it is heartening to watch democracy in action in India and the popular support the farmers' movement is garnering throughout the nation and the global Indian diaspora. While I believe the Indian government should have consulted meaningfully with farmers before passing these laws, I welcome their efforts to engage with the protestors to ensure that legislation that affects these communities reflects their input and interests as well, Levin said.

 

9:36 PM

Govt should include MSP in farm laws or take back legislations: Owaisi

The NDA government at the Centre can amend the new farm laws and incorporate minimum support price (MSP)or withdraw them to end the over a month-long agitation by farmers near Delhi, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said on Wednesday.

Observing that thousands of farmers were protesting, he said it must be understood that their demands "are genuine. It is in national interest that the Modi government accepts the demands," he told reporters here. "There is a very easy way out for the government. The Prime Minister should tell the nation that they are going to amend the law and include MSP. Or, can take back those three laws," he said, responding to a question on the agitation.

On reports that 39 Indian sailors of two cargo ships were stuck in China, he said the Centre should take steps to bring them back. "It is high time that the government reacts to it. I want the Prime Minister to at least please tweet on it. Let the Prime Minister react and get them back," Owaisi said.

9:02 PM

Govt, farmers agree on two out of four issues, next meet on Jan 4

The sixth round of meetings between protesting farmers and the government ended after over five hours with the Centre saying that the two sides had reached consensus on two out of four key issues. The next meeting will take place on January 4.

 

Addressing media persons after the meeting with 41 farmer leaders at Vigyan Bhavan here, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "Today's talks were held in a very good environment and concluded on a positive note. We have had consensus on two out of the four issues."

 

"Next meeting of government with farmers will take place on January 4."

8:45 PM

Issues related to stubble burning and electricity sorted in today's meeting: Bhartiya Kisan Union

8:34 PM

Committee could be formed to deliberate on demands: Government to farmers

The government told farmer leaders during the meeting on Wednesday that a committee could be formed to deliberate on their demands. During discussions, the government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers' demands regarding the three farm laws. A meeting between the Union government and farmer leaders concluded at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stating that a consensus was reached on two out of four issues on the agenda. He also said that the next meeting will be held on January 4.

The delegation of farmers from several states, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they wanted the farm laws taken back.

 

"Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back," said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting.

8:24 PM

Govt offers to set up panel on farmers demand, next meeting on Jan 4

The government and farm unions reached some common ground on Wednesday to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

 

After nearly five hours of the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.

 

"Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4," Tomar told reporters after the meeting ended. READ ON...

8:10 PM

Govt-farmers meet remains deadlocked over MSP, repeal of farm laws

The government and farm unions reached some common ground on Wednesday to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

 

After nearly five hours of the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.

 

"Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4," Tomar told reporters after the meeting ended.

 

He said talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the two sides reached an agreement on two issues -- one relating to the proposed electricity law and the other about an ordinance on penal provisions for stubble burning.

7:58 PM

Today's talks mostly on electricity, stubble burning: Union leader Kalwant Singh Sandhu

7:55 PM

Discussions on farm laws, MSP guarantee will continue in next round of talks on Jan 4: Agriculture Minister

7:14 PM

Sixth round of meeting between farmer leaders and Centre concludes; next meeting on Jan 4

6:20 PM

Farmers demand justice, compensation for families of those died during protests

During the ongoing meeting between the farmers and the government on Wednesday, the farmer leaders have demanded justice and compensation for the families of the farmers who died during the protest. The meeting between the Union government and farmer leaders over three farm laws is underway at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Narendra Singh Tomar had food with farmer leaders during the lunch break at Vigyan Bhawan.

 

The delegation of farmers from several states, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they want the government to repeal the new farm laws.

 

"Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back," said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting. Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was also seen heading to the meeting from the Ghazipur border (UP-Delhi border).

5:50 PM

Govt may form a committee to deliberate on farmers' demands

5:15 PM

Govt-farmers meeting LIVE: Ministers join union leaders to share langar food

Three union ministers joined farm leaders on Wednesday to share 'langar' food arranged by protesting farmers during their sixth round of talks to resolve the deadlock over new farm laws. The 'langar' (community kitchen) food arrived in a van at the meeting venue, Vigyan Bhawan, after around two hours of discussions had taken place and the two sides took a break for tea and snacks.

 

Sources present at the venue said that Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash joined the farmer leaders to share their langar food during the break. Farmer leaders said that the talks were continuing and they were going 'agenda wise'.

 

Before start of the meeting, some union leaders had said farmers in some parts of the country are being forced to sell crops including paddy below the Minimum Support Price as market rates have fallen and asserted that the agitation will continue till the government agrees to their demands.

5:01 PM

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Narendra Singh Tomar having food with farmers leaders

4:22 PM

Falling market rates forcing farmers to sell crops below MSP: Union leaders

As farmers' protest against three new farm laws continues, union leaders on Wednesday said peasants in some parts of the country are being forced to sell crops including paddy below the Minimum Support Price as market rates have fallen and asserted that the agitation will continue till the government agrees to their demands.

 

"After new farm laws were implemented in Uttar Pradesh, prices of crops have fallen by 50 per cent. Crops are being bought at below MSP. Paddy is being sold at Rs 800 per quintal. We will raise these issues in the meeting," Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said.

 

Before entering the venue of the sixth round of talks between farmer groups and the government, Tikait told reporters that farmers will continue their stir if the government does not agree to our demands.

 

"We will not leave Delhi till our demands are met. We will celebrate New year at borders" he said.

 

Punjab farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa came for the meeting carrying placards of media reports of fraudulent cases reported in Guna and Hosangabad after implementation of the new laws.