LIVE: Govt ready for talks again if farmers consider pitch to suspend laws

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Govt and farmer unions met for their 11th round of talks to resolve the nearly-two-month long deadlock

5:20 PM

No date for the next meeting has been fixed by the government

5:10 PM

We gave a proposal to farmers and if they have a better proposal then they can come to us: Government

5:05 PM

Farmer leaders' 11th meeting with Centre ends

Farmer leaders' 11th meeting with Centre ends

4:00 PM

Govt asks farm leaders to reconsider proposal for suspending three laws; Unions stick to repeal demand

Farmer unions on Friday told the government they want a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months, as the two sides met for their 11th round of talks to resolve the nearly-two-month long deadlock.

 

In the last round of meetings held on Wednesday, the government had offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, after internal consultations on Thursday, the farmer unions decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands -- the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).

 

"We told the government that we will not agree to anything other than the repeal of the laws. But the minister asked us to discuss separately again and rethink on the matter and convey the decision," farmer leader Darshan Pal told PTI during a break after the first session.

 

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said: "We conveyed our position clearly to the government that we want a repeal of the laws and not a suspension. The minister (Narendra Singh Tomar) asked us to reconsider our decision."

 

3:20 PM

Govt shows shocking insensitivity, arrogance towards farmers: Sonia Gandhi

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government over the ongoing farmers' agitation, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the Centre has shown 'shocking insensitivity and arrogance' towards the farmers. Chairing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Gandhi said, "The agitation of farmers continues and the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations."

 

She emphasised that the three farm laws were prepared in haste and the Parliament was 'consciously denied' an opportunity to examine their implications and impacts.

 

"Our position has been very clear from the very beginning: we reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement and PDS," said Gandhi.

2:19 PM

Tractors line up in Delhi ahead of farmers' parade on R-Day

The farmers stir against the three contentious farm laws is expected to reach its zenith with the #FarmersParade alongside the Republic Day parade on January 26 when they wish to showcase the might of the "kisan" along with the "jawans". For this they have been lining up tractors here sent from Punjab and other states in huge trolleys.

 

The farm agitation entered the 58th day on Friday as the farmers rejected the Centre's proposal of suspension of the agri legislation for the time being following the 10th round of talks on Wednesday. Farmers have been demanding a complete roll back.

 

In the various trolleys parked at the Singhu border in Delhi, there are two tractors on each trolley ready to roll out and make the 'Tractor rally' an absolute grand affair. On the other hand, the meeting of farmers organisations with the Delhi Police over the 'Farmer parade' announced earlier by them was inconclusive on Thursday.

1:48 PM

11th round of Centre-farmers' talks underway

The 11th round of talks between the protesting farmer unions and three Union Ministers got underway here on Friday to break the over-a-month long deadlock on the new agricultural laws.

 

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, are holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

 

The Centre on Wednesday proposed to suspend the agricultural laws for one and half years and had set up a joint panel to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate. The farmers, who have threatened to march to Delhi on Republic Day (January 26) if the laws are not scrapped, have been camping on the outskirts of Delhi in protest against the laws.

1:21 PM

Agriculture minister at Vigyan Bhawan to participate in 11th round of talks with farmers

Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Vigyan Bhawan to participate in the 11th round of talks with farmer leaders and organisations, over the three new farm laws

12:53 PM

LIVE: 11th round of talks between farm leaders, Centre to begin shortly

11th round of talks between farm leaders, Centre to begin shortly