Govt offers to amend farm laws; Farmer leaders insist on repeal

NEW DELHI:

The tenth round of talks between the government and farmers’ unions resulted in a conditional disagreement on Wednesday.

While the government offered to amend the three contentious farm laws, farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the Acts and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

There was no breakthrough in the first two sessions as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the eleventh round.

Sources informed that the government had proposed to keep the three farm laws suspended for a fixed period of one year and thereby form a committee comprising of farmer union leaders and government representatives to bring out an ideal solution.

The government proposed that the laws would remain suspended till the committee gives its report. It also urged farmer unions to suspend their agitation till that time.

The proposal, however, did not find any support from the farm leaders, who were resolute in forcing the government to repeal the laws.

The farm laws have already been suspended by the Supreme Court (SC), which formed a committee to resolve the deadlock.

The committee formed by the SC has was directed to give its report within the next two months. (With inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ

Also Read: Defence Ministry organises quiz competition ahead of Republic Day