Govt Strict On Firm Law
- 15-Dec-2020
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Farmers Hold Hunger Strike
The Narendra Modi-led government is said to have taken a political call not to yield to the protesting farmers’ demand that the three laws be repealed — but is willing to continue talks with them.
“A repeal is not possible; and a 0-1 binary will not work. The government has given an amendment option. It is also willing to change the wordings of the three laws based on farmer concerns,” said a top government source who is in the know of developments in Krishi Bhawan. “The door for talks is always open.”
On Day 19 of the protests, leaders of 32 farm unions escalated their agitation by observing a day’s hunger strike beginning 8 am at the Singhu border. The police, meanwhile, put up shipping containers using cranes on NH-44 to firm up the barricades already fortified with dumpsters laden with sand and barbed wire to prevent protesters from entering Delhi.
From the Government’s side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and are also met Home Minister Amit Shah for the second successive day.
Sources said back-channel talks were on with leaders of some of the unions in the group of 32. “Some leaders are willing to understand the need for arriving at a middle path. Not having discussed possible exit options, they are stuck with their maximalist position. But a solution may be in the offing,” the source said without elaborating.
