Govt proposes panel to vet MSP, repeal of farm laws; fresh talks on Jan 4

Centre agrees to demands on air quality ordinance, draft electricity Bill

The sixth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers made some headway on Wednesday, with the government agreeing to two of the four main demands and deciding to meet again on January 4 to deliberate on the contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). The Centre also proposed to set up a committee to examine the latter two demands, a final decision on which is expected in the next meeting.

During the talks, the government agreed to keep farmers outside the ambit of the pollution control Ordinance for Delhi-National Capital Region, a move that will prevent any penal action against them for stubble burning. Also, the draft electricity amendment Act would not tinker with the existing system of subsidy disbursements in states.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition related to the farmers’ agitation, had earlier said a panel comprising farmers’ leaders, government officials, and independent experts could be constituted to end the deadlock.

“Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4,” Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after the meeting.

He said talks were held in “a cordial atmosphere” and the two sides reached an agreement on two issues -- one relating to the proposed electricity law and the other about an Ordinance on penal provisions for stubble burning. “A decision on 50 per cent of the demands has been reached. For the remaining, we will meet again on January 4,” the minister added.

He hailed the farmers’ unions for maintaining peace and discipline during their protest, but urged them to send the elderly, women and children back to their homes due to the extreme cold weather.

After the meeting, one of the protesting Union leaders, Kalwant Singh Sandhu, said the talks mostly focussed on electricity and stubble burning, while the next meeting would focus on the MSP guarantee and the three farm laws.

Tomar was accompanied by Food and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash at the meeting.

Farmers have, meanwhile, decided to hold back their proposed tractor march on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on Thursday in protest against the Centre's laws.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, UP and some other states are protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country. However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.