Farmers' protests: Consensus between farmer unions and govt on 2 issues

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The sixth round of talks between the Centre and farmers' union leaders concluded on Wednesday evening. The two sides extensively discussed issues related to the three contentious farm laws. While the Union ministers were firm on backing the laws, farmers' representatives demanded to repeal them. The next round of talks is scheduled to take place on January 4.
Here are some top developments as crucial talks concluded.

1. "CONSENSUS REACHED ON 2 OF 4 ISSUES"

Soon after the meeting at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi concluded, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the talks with farmers leaders concluded on a positive note since consensus on two issues -- Electricity Act and Penalty against Stubble agreement -- was reached.

2. DISCUSSION ON ELECTRICITY ACT, POWER BILL 2020

"The first issue was an ordinance related to the Environment. Unions were apprehensive about farmers being included along with Parali ones. Both sides agreed to farmers' exclusion," Narendra Singh Tomar said. "Farmers feel that if reform is introduced in the Electricity Act, they'll suffer loss. Unions wanted that electricity subsidy given to farmers by states for irrigation should continue. The consensus was reached on this issue also, he said.

3. "GOVT TO NOT WITHDRAW LAWS"

According to the sources, the Centre, during the meeting with farmer leaders, reiterated that it will not withdraw the farm laws. The ministers further repeated their proposal on the MSP issue and assured to give a written assurance, sources said.

4. NEXT ROUND OF TALKS ON JANUARY 4; MSP ON AGENDA

Narendra Singh Tomar said that the next round of meeting will take place at 2 pm on January 4.

5. "GOVT MAY FORM COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS LAWS-RELATED ISSUES"

According to sources, the central government may form a committee to discuss issues related to three farm laws. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had ordered that a special committee be formed, saying that the Centre's negotiations have failed. "Your negotiation will again fail as they [the farmers] won't agree," said the bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde.

6. FARMERS SUSPEND TRACTOR RALLY

After the crucial talks with the Centre, protesting farmers have decided to suspend tractor rally against the Center. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are still camping at several border areas in Delhi-NCR. They have been protesting against the three farm laws for over a month now.

7. UNION MINISTERS HAVE LUNCH WITH FARMER LEADERS

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal joined farmers' union leaders for langar (community meals) organised at Vigyan Bhawan. Visuals from inside Vigyan Bhavan showed the two ministers being served the langar that the farmers arranged from outside.

8. GOVT WANTS ALL FARMERS GET MSP BENEFIT: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government intended that all farmers get the MSP benefit, for which directives have been issued to ensure the proper functioning of paddy procurement centres in the state. He stressed that the intention of his government is to ensure that farmers get all benefits of the MSP, the release said.

9. RELIANCE JIO WRITES TO PUNJAB CM AGAINST VANDALISM OF JIO SITES

Reliance Jio Infocomm has written to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and Punjab DGP seeking their intervention into the "incidents of sabotage and vandalism of Jio Network sites" in Punjab by unknown persons.

10. "PREVENT DAMAGE TO NATIONAL ASSETS DURING FARMERS' PROTEST"

The ASSOCHAM president has written to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, seeking his intervention in preventing damage to national assets during the ongoing farmers' protest.