Farmers' stir: Agriculture Min Narendra Tomar says hopeful of positive outcome at Jan 4 meet

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said government is hopeful of a "positive outcome" at its next meeting with farmers' unions on January 4 but refrained from predicting wher seventh round of talks will be last one, saying he is t an astrologer.

Speaking to PTI, minister said that last meeting held on December 30, 2020, happened in a cordial atmosphere and re is a possibility of positive results in interest of farmers and of country's farm sector at next meeting.

On farmer unions sticking to ir demand for repeal of three farm laws and rejecting government's proposal to suggest alternatives, Tomar said: "We will see."

Asked wher he expects January 4t meeting to be last one, minister said: "I cant say for sure w. I am t an astrologer. I am hopeful that whatever decision would be arrived at (in meeting) will be in interest of country and of farmers. (Ekdam to abhi kuch kah nahi sakta. Bavishyavakta to main hoon nahi. Lekin mujhe asha hai ki jo bhi faisla hoga, desh ke aur kisan ke hit mein hoga).

Six rounds of talks between government and nearly 40 protesting unions have so far failed to end agitation on various Delhi borders for over a month by thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Presh.

Some common ground was reached in last meeting on Wednesday on two demands -- decriminalisation of stubble burning and continuation of power subsidies -- but breakthrough has been reached so far on two main demands of protesting farmers -- repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee of MSP procurement system.

Enacted in September 2020, government has presented se laws as major farm reforms and aimed at increasing farmers' income, but protesting farmers have raised concerns that se legislations would weaken MSP and mandi systems and leave m at mercy of big corporates.

government has maintained se apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out repealing laws. While several opposition parties and people from or walks of life have come out in support of farmers, some farmer groups have also met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar over last few weeks to extend ir support for three laws.

Protesting farmer unions have, however, upped ante ahe of meeting by threatening to intensify ir agitation if government does t agree to ir main demands for repeal of laws and a legal guarantee to MSP.

In a statement, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said, "Farmers have one demand, that is, repeal of three laws. ...Acceptance of two mir issues is a cover of rigidness on repeal."

Separately, protesting union leers said at Singhu border that only five per cent of issues raised by m have so far been discussed in meetings with government.

y warned that if January 4 meeting fails to end delock, y will anunce dates for shutting all malls, petrol pumps in Haryana.

Farmers protesting at Shahjahanpur on Haryana-Rajasthan border will also move towards national capital, Swaraj India leer Yogendra Yav said.

Ar leer Yudhveer Singh said that a tractor march will be held on January 6 if concrete decision is taken in next round of talks. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/nstomar)