Chhavi Bhatia

New Delhi—The eighth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers ended inconclusively on Friday. While the government reiterated bringing amendments to the new farm laws, the farmer leaders hardened their stand saying they will go back once the laws are repealed. A fresh meeting is scheduled to take place on January 15.

“Our ghar wapsi will happen only with law vapsi,” a union leader said this at the meeting today, clearly showing the mood of lakhs of farmers who have dug in their heels at various Delhi borders protesting against the controversial laws. In another strong message, the farmers also carried placards with ‘ya jittaange ya maraange’(we will either win or die) written on them. The leaders also told the Centre that agriculture was a state subject and the states should have all the say in this.  The farmers also made it clear that they will march towards the National Capital on Republic Day as planned if the standoff persists.

Agriculture minister Narendra Tomar, however, ruled out any possibility of revoking the laws, saying it has been “welcomed” by a large number of farmers and the unions should keep national interest in mind. The meeting at Vigyan Bhawan scheduled to take place at 2, happened a little after 2:30 PM with the ministers arriving late.

“The government is in no mood to resolve the issue. It does not even care for farmers who are camping out in the cold or those who are dying every day. The PM has not expressed any concern over the 70 martyrs we have lost,” said Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rajinder Singh. Jagmohan Singh, another senior BKU leader lamented that the government was “anti-farmer”. “They told us to approach the Supreme Court but we told them point blank that we will not move the court. They sought another meeting so we agreed. There is no contention, though that we will accept anything other than repeal,” he asserted.