Centre to hold the 8th round of talks with representatives of farmers' unions in New Delhi today

The Centre will hold the eighth round of talks with the representatives of farmers' unions in New Delhi today to address the issues concerning them break the deadlock over the recently-enacted agricultural laws.

The eighth round of talks will be held between a ministerial committee, including Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash, and 41 representatives of farm organisations.

During the previous meeting on January 4, 2021, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Government wanted farmer unions to discuss the three farm laws clause-wise, but they could not find any solution as farmer unions remained adamant on the repeal of these three laws.

The Government has repeatedly assured the farmers' leaders that it is committed to address their issues and both sides need to take steps forward to arrive at an amicable solution. Mr Tomar had reiterated that MSP and the Mandi system will continue like before.

However, a day before the 8th round of talks, thousands of farmers held a tractor march, which was a kind of a dress rehearsal for Republic Day on January 26, 2021, the day when they have plans to hold a bigger march towards Delhi.