India / Deadlock over farm laws likely to end in 24-48 hours: Haryana Dy CM

New Delhi: Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said on Saturday that the deadlock between the Central government and protesting farmers over new agricultural laws are likely to end in the next 24 to 48 hours, asserting that a breakthrough is expected in the final round of talks between the Centre and the unions.

Chautala’s statement comes even as farmers have vowed to intensify their ongoing agitation, seeking revocation of the contentious laws.

The Haryana Deputy CM had earlier said he will resign if the MSP system is threatened amid mounting pressure from the opposition and some farmers to pull out from the BJP-led government in the state.

Asked whether the alliance government in Haryana was stable, Chautala said on Saturday, “Yes. ..Till we ensure MSP, we will be stable. I am hopeful there will be another round of talks and some conclusive statement can come out of that," the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader said.

Chautala further said that he is hopeful that the next round of talks will be held early and some positive results will follow from both sides.

“I am hopeful the way the Centre is engaging with protesting farmers and has given a 24-page reply to the demands of the farmers union, the situation at borders will normalise with a mutual agreement and there would be a conclusion to this issue with mutual consent," he said, PTI reported.

Chautala yesterday met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Food, Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the ongoing protests.

Farmers' protest

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for the past few weeks demanding withdrawal of the farm laws.

The Centre held several rounds of talks with the farm union leaders in the past few weeks to end the stalemate and allay concerns of farmers about the new farm laws enacted in September but failed to end the impasse.

On Wednesday, farmer leaders rejected a government proposal to amend the laws, asserting that they would intensify their agitation and hold a nationwide protest on December 14.

The Centre sent the proposal to the farmer unions on Wednesday, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met their 13 representatives to break the deadlock on the contentious laws.

In the draft proposal, the government had offered to give a "written assurance" to the farmers that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for crop procurement will continue. It also proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven counts, including one to dispel concerns about the weakening of the mandi system besides providing all necessary clarifications on their concerns about the new farm laws enacted in September.