Implementation of farm laws to be suspended for 18 months, next meeting on January 22

Farmers protests updates

As the farmers protests over the National Capital surges, on Wednesday the government proposed to postpone the enforcement of new farm laws for one and a half year and establishment of a joint committee to hold discussions over new legislations in tenth rounds of talks with farmer unions. Farmers are still seeking for legal guarantee for Minimum Selling Price (MSP) and repeal of laws. However, the proposal wasn't making peace with aspirations of farmers and agreed to revert on January 21 after holding internal discussions. The next meeting will be held on 22 January.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said, "We will deliberate over the decision of suspension of implementation of farm laws for 18 months tomorrow, although we rejected it at the start." Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said that the government advised to forward an affidavit in Supreme Court regarding repeal of three laws for a conclusive period. The leaders asserted their adherence to their demands but will give a shot to discussion of the proposal and declare their decision in the next meeting. Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister, expected a negotiable conclusion in next meeting.

Tomar said, "Today's talks were tending to reach a common ground. We want to calm the outrage. Talks can continue but we can expect a solution." In yesterday's discussion the government still offered proposed amendments to break the deadlock. The unions feel that they are neglecting legal guarantees on MSP. If sources are to be believed then the government can suspend the farm laws for a time being and appoint a committee incorporating both farmer union's leaders and government's representatives. The ministers sought the farmers to suspend their protests until laws remain unenforced.

The laws are put on hold until further orders from SC and the appointed committee will hold discussion with stakeholders on Thursday which will give its report. Meanwhile, the farmers denied to participate in meetings and deliberations in a committee appointed by court to address their issues. The SC expressed displeasure over accusations of farmers on members of the appointed committee, saying that adjudicating authority doesn't include anyone from a panel of experts having great expertise in agriculture.