A delegation of farmers is currently engaged in a meeting with senior officials of the central government, including the Agriculture minister to discuss their demands of withdrawal of the new farm laws.
More traffic restrictions were put in place along Delhi’s borders to keep protesting farmers from marching in, while a meeting between their representatives and the government at Vigyan Bhavan was on to break the standoff over the three farms laws that the Centre passed in September.
Farmer leaders, however, declined the central government’s offer for lunch during their meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. They said they had brought their food. Thursday was the 8th day of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march called by farmer unions from across the country, particularly from Punjab and Haryana.
Thousands of farmers continue to camp on Delhi’s borders, demanding that the Centre withdraw its three new farm laws or assure Minimum Support Price (MSP) in writing. Earlier in the day, former Punjab Chief Minister and SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal, who was one of NDA’s strongest allies, decided to return his Padma Vibhushan award in protest against the farm laws.
On Thursday, a delegation of farm leaders met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal and other senior officials at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi to discuss their demands. During lunchtime, farm leaders declined the offer of food served by the government.