<p>The talks between farmers from Punjab and the Modi government to end their one-and-a-half month agitation over agriculture sector reforms were inconclusive on Friday.</p>.<p>After a seven-hour meeting with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, representatives of 30 farmers’ organisations from Punjab said the would continue their agitation over the demands to revoke the three farm sector laws passed by Parliament and shelve the amendments to the Electricity Act.</p>.<p>“The talks have not collapsed yet. They have begun on a positive note. But our movement against the three central laws would continue,” Abhimanyu Kohar, spokesperson of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.</p>.<p>All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee said that leaders of the 30 farmers’ organisations would meet in Chandigarh on November 18 to decide on the next course of action.</p>.<p>The farmer leaders argue that the new laws will dilute the MSP regime, benefit corporates more than small farmers, and end the APMC markets. They are also protesting the Electricity Bill, 2020, which could end power subsidies for farmers.</p>.<p>At the outset, Tomar told the farmer leaders that the government had no plans to scrap the MSP regime and APMC markets would continue to function.</p>.<p>The farm sector reforms would not only provide freedom of choice to farmers to sell their produce at remunerative price and also safeguard farmers’ interests, he said.</p>.<p>“The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and both sides agreed to continue to hold further discussions,” an Agriculture Ministry statement said.</p>.<p>Farmers’ agitation in Punjab have blocked railway traffic, starving thermal power plants of coal and the state of essential supplies, fertilisers, and jute bags for storing paddy that has been harvested in the fields.</p>.<p>Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav also briefed the meeting railway operations that had taken a hit due to the farmers’ agitation in Punjab and urged them to end the rail roko.</p>.<p>Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh welcomed the talks of the farmer leaders with the union ministers.</p>.<p>Farmers’ organisations from across the country are also planning a massive protest in the national capital on November 26-27 to demand the roll back of farm sector reforms.</p>
<p>The talks between farmers from Punjab and the Modi government to end their one-and-a-half month agitation over agriculture sector reforms were inconclusive on Friday.</p>.<p>After a seven-hour meeting with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, representatives of 30 farmers’ organisations from Punjab said the would continue their agitation over the demands to revoke the three farm sector laws passed by Parliament and shelve the amendments to the Electricity Act.</p>.<p>“The talks have not collapsed yet. They have begun on a positive note. But our movement against the three central laws would continue,” Abhimanyu Kohar, spokesperson of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.</p>.<p>All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee said that leaders of the 30 farmers’ organisations would meet in Chandigarh on November 18 to decide on the next course of action.</p>.<p>The farmer leaders argue that the new laws will dilute the MSP regime, benefit corporates more than small farmers, and end the APMC markets. They are also protesting the Electricity Bill, 2020, which could end power subsidies for farmers.</p>.<p>At the outset, Tomar told the farmer leaders that the government had no plans to scrap the MSP regime and APMC markets would continue to function.</p>.<p>The farm sector reforms would not only provide freedom of choice to farmers to sell their produce at remunerative price and also safeguard farmers’ interests, he said.</p>.<p>“The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and both sides agreed to continue to hold further discussions,” an Agriculture Ministry statement said.</p>.<p>Farmers’ agitation in Punjab have blocked railway traffic, starving thermal power plants of coal and the state of essential supplies, fertilisers, and jute bags for storing paddy that has been harvested in the fields.</p>.<p>Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav also briefed the meeting railway operations that had taken a hit due to the farmers’ agitation in Punjab and urged them to end the rail roko.</p>.<p>Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh welcomed the talks of the farmer leaders with the union ministers.</p>.<p>Farmers’ organisations from across the country are also planning a massive protest in the national capital on November 26-27 to demand the roll back of farm sector reforms.</p>
