NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (NNN-PTI) – The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmers and the Indian government failed to end the ongoing stalemate.
The farmer leaders refused to accept the government’s proposal, to put the controversial laws on hold for 18 months. The leaders insisted that the laws be scrapped.
Unlike the previous times, no date was set for the next meeting between the two sides.
The government told the farmers “all possible options have been given” and asked them to hold internal discussions on their proposal, about temporarily suspending the laws before returning to the table.
“To resolve the issues of farmers, the government consulted with farmers’ unions for about 45 hours, in 11 rounds. I am sad that the talks were adjourned due to lack of agreement on both sides. Hope farmers organisations will reconsider the proposal,” federal Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, said.
“We told the government we will not agree to anything other than repeal of the laws. The minister asked us to discuss separately, rethink the matter and convey (our) decision,” Darshan Pal, a farmer leader, said.
The farmers reiterated to hold a tractor rally on India’s Republic Day (Jan 26), if their demands were not met.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting since Nov 26 last year, in and around the capital, Delhi, occupying roads and demanding the withdrawal of the farm laws.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been strongly defending the three laws ever since the protest broke out.– NNN-PTI
