Amid the fourth round of discussion between the Centre and farmers over the Farm Bills at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday, farmer unions decided to boycott government-served food and beverages.
“We are not accepting food or tea offered by the government. We have brought our own food, we will eat that,” said a farmer leader.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister Piyush Goyal represented the Central government in the meeting.
The government had held the third round of talks with farmer representatives on Tuesday. During the talks, the Centre offered to set up a committee, which the farmers’ unions rejected, and instead demanded a special session of Parliament to repeal what they have called “black laws” made to favour corporate bodies. Farmers said they will continue their protest till their issues are resolved.
Notably, farmers have warned that Thursday’s talks are the “last chance” for the government to take a decision on the laws. “Thursday is the last chance for the government to take a decision to repeal the laws. Otherwise, this movement will become huge and the government will fall,” said Pratibha Shinde of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha.
