Consensus on two issues, says Centre after 6th round of talks with farmers' representatives

While the government is firm on implementing the contentious farm laws, it has offered to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill and the penal provisions for stubble burning in the Air Quality Commission Ordinance, which were among the other demands of the protesting farmers.

"Regarding the Air Quality Management Ordinance and the Electricity Amendment Bill Shri Tomar said that suggestions of the farmers’ unions have been agreed too in principle," the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said in a statement.

Tomar has once again assured the farmers’ union leaders that the government is committed to solving farmers’ problems and that both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution.

"On the Unions’ demand for the repeal of Farm Laws the Minister said that this too can be referred to a committee which will study the constitutional validity and propriety keeping in mind the welfare of farmers," the Ministry stated.

Tomar once again attempted to assure the farmers’ unions that MSP and the Mandi system will continue like before.

"The demand of the Farmers’ Unions for an MSP law and the difference between MSP and market rates for agricultural produce would be referred to a committee when it is constituted," he said.

Farmers who attended the meet informed mediapersons that the government has indicated that it would not repeal the laws, citing the long process required.

The 41 farmers' groups attending the meet said they will respond after discussions.

On the government's part, Tomar has assured the farmers that the government has an open mind and is willing to resolve all issues with clear intentions.

According to a statement by the Agriculture Ministry, the talks proceeded in a "cordial atmosphere and both sides agreed to continue dialogue."

Tomar has asked the farmers' union leaders to put forward their proposals which the government will study and discuss.

He assured that the government is taking all possible steps for the welfare of farmers.

The next round of talks will take place on Jan 4. 

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister has appealed to farmers’ unions to end the agitation so that women, children and elders can return home.

Thousands of farmers are camped in Delhi-Haryana border since the end of November with the sole demand of the repeal of the laws enacted by the central government through an Ordinance amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the Centre's new farm laws will now allow farmers to sell their produce to institutional buyers beyond the regulated wholesale market.

Though the middlemen in the wholesale markets are often accused of usurping the farmers in the earlier agricultural system, the protesters, backed by several opposition parties, fear they will have little bargaining power while selling their produce to institutional buyers, running the risk of getting exploited with the gradual destablising of the mundies.