Farmers’ protests at the Delhi border over new agricultural laws continued on Saturday, the 59th day. At the 11th round meeting between farmer organizations and the government on Friday, no consensus could be reached as both sides are adamant on their stance. On the Republic Day, the Tractor Parade can be held again today with farmer leaders and police officers. All farmers leaders, including Indian Kisan Union spokesman Rakesh Tikite, said the tractor rally will be taken out on January 26 and the government is responsible for maintaining peace during this period.
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After Friday’s meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said no consensus had been reached. Although the government is making choices, farmer organizations remain adamant in repealing these three laws, Tomar said. He said the government was fully committed to the welfare of the farmers. Tomar said the government has urged farmers to reconsider the government’s proposals. Farmer organizations said they could inform the government of its decision by tomorrow. The agriculture minister said that the stubborn behavior of the peasant leaders was due to external forces and it was difficult to find any solution when the sanctity of the movement was lost. However, farmer leaders said they would accept nothing less than the repeal of the new agrarian laws.
Tomar regretted the failure of the 11th round of talks and took a tough stance, alleging that there were some forces who wanted to pursue the movement because of their personal and political interests. Tomar told reporters after the meeting that several proposals have been made by the central government so far, including the implementation of three agricultural laws, postponement of 12-18 months and a committee to find a solution through discussion. Farmer organizations are adamant in rejecting these laws. He said there was some power that the peasant movement had to go on and that no dialogue would produce good results.
Significantly, the protest of the peasants in the border areas of the capital continued on Saturday, the 59th day. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states are protesting on the Delhi border. The show opened on November 26th. Farmers are demanding the repeal of all three agricultural reform laws and the legal status of a minimum support price.
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