No solution could be found as farmers ‘adamant’ on rollback of agri laws, says Tomar

New Delhi: After the eighth round of talks, the Centre could not reach any “solution” as the farmer unions remained “adamant” over repealing of three farm laws, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday.

“We wanted farmer unions to discuss three laws clause-wise. We could not reach any solution as farmer unions remained adamant on the repeal of the laws,” Tomar told reporters here this evening at Vigyan Bhawan.

However, the minister said he is “hopeful” that a conclusion will be found in the next round of talks which will be held on January 8 at 2 pm.

“Looking at today’s discussion, I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting and we will come to a conclusion,” he said.

We wanted farmer unions to discuss three laws clause-wise. We could not reach any solution as farmer union remained adamant on the repeal of the laws: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar pic.twitter.com/LOC0WHFv1U

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

Yudhvir Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Union said that they want a complete rollback of farm laws.

“The minister wanted us to discuss the law point-wise. We rejected it and said that there is no point in discussing the laws because we want a complete rollback of the laws. The government intends to take us towards amendments but we will not accept it,” Singh said while addressing the reporters here after the meeting.

Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash along with government officials and representatives of farmers also observed a two-minute silence for farmers who died during the ongoing protest.

Looking at today’s discussion, I hope that we will have a meaningful discussion during our next meeting and we will come to a conclusion: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar https://t.co/qI6PmeHM07

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2021

After the meeting, Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union said that farmers, who are protesting for over a month against three agriculture laws at different borders of the national capital will not go back until the Acts are repealed.

“Discussion took place on our demands — repeal of the three laws and MSP… Kannon wapasi nahi, to ghar wapasi nahi (We will not go home until the laws are withdrawn),” Tikait told media.

Earlier, Tikait claimed that 60 farmers have so far lost their lives during the ongoing agitation. He further said that one farmer is dying every 16 hours and it is the government’s responsibility to give an answer.

Farmers have been protesting at the gates of Delhi since November 26 last year against the newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance, and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.