Farm Unions indecisive over Centre's offer to hold talks

The agitated farmer unions on Tuesday remained indecisive in responding to Centre's offer for resumption of dialogue to end prolonged deadlock over the controversial farm laws. According to the latest developments, the farmers will discuss the matter among themselves on Wednesday once again and then decide on government's call for talks.

Meanwhile, Agricultural minister Narendra Singh Tomar in a series of interviews to foreign medias, clearly signaled that the Centre will not take back the laws, however, will consider reforming them after discussion with farmers Unions.

"I hope that they will complete their internal consultations soon and come for the dialogue. We are hopeful of resolving it (farmers’ protest) at the earliest,” said Tomar after meeting some farmer leaders at his office here.

Darshan Pal, Punjab president of Krantikari Kisan Union, told TOI "we aren't averse to discussions on broad farm reforms if the Centre puts repeal of the laws on its agenda. That's our core demand and we won't compromise on it."

"We call upon Indians living abroad to stage protest in front of Indian embassies. We will also publish 25 lakh pamphlets in Hindi, English and Punjabi, and distribute in villages to mobilise support for our demand,” said Prem Singh Bhangu, president of All India Kisan Federation.

“There is a feeling that any decision has to be taken keeping in view the government’s strategy of putting the blame on farmers for the deadlock,” said a farmer leader associated with one of the organisations.

In other updates related to the Farmers' agitation, a few farm representatives from Punjab have written to British MPs, urging them to convince PM Boris Johnson to not visit India on Republic Day till the time farmers' demands were met by the Centre.

Meanwhile, the Centre last week ruled out the possibilty that new farm laws will be put on hold until the impasse with protesting farmers is resolved.

On the other hand, the Supreme Court had suggested the Centre to "assure that no executive action under the new laws" is taken. However, attorney general KK Venugopal expressed Centre's inability on the same while Solicit General Tushar Mehta said that such suggestion will be tough to implement.