Can the fourth round of talks between farmers and the government draw any conclusion?
Though the farmers allege that the government is adamant about forcing the laws on them, technically, the ball is in the farmers’ court.
As the government meets the farmers’ representatives in the fourth round of talks on Thursday, December 3, everyone expects a resolution to the ongoing protest. The farmers are sitting in protest against the new Farm Laws passed by the Parliament.
These expectations have further gained strength after the meeting between Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Captain Amrinder has urged both the Union Government as well as the farmers to reach a conclusion for the sake of the nation’s security.
The fourth round of meetings is headed by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, and Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, while all the 32 representatives of the various farmers union attend on farmers’ behalf.
“The Central government is constantly discussing the farmers’ issues with them. Today is the fourth round of talks with the protesting farmers. I am hoping for a positive outcome,” Tomar told reporters here ahead of the meeting.
Farmer leaders, while speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, also expressed hope that the rounds of talks will lead to a positive outcome but many leaders remained consistent with their stand that the protests will continue until the farm laws are rolled back.
“We hope that the talks today will be productive. If our demands are not met, then the farmers will continue the protest and even take part in the Republic Day parade held in Delhi,” farmer leader Rakesh Tikat, a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said.
Though the farmers allege that the government is adamant about forcing the laws on them, technically, the ball is in the farmers’ court. It is the farmers who have to decide and derive a middle way to resolve the matter. Their demand for scrapping all the three new laws cannot be met, and they also know it very well.
As the protest intensifies with each passing day, the entry and exit points to Delhi are getting choked causing a huge problem for not only the commuters but for the supply of essential materials to the national capital as well.
