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Farmers during Thursday's meeting demanded the removal of the three farm laws which was earlier refused by the Centre. On the other hand, Union agricultural minister Narendra Singh said that the government listened to all problems of farmers.
- 06:32 AM IST
Farmers block Ghaziabad-Delhi stretch on NH-9
It has been over eight days since farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the central government’s newly introduced agricultural reforms. Thursday’s meeting at Vigyan Bhawn between the Union ministers and the representative of farmers’ groups which went on for over 7 seven hours remained inconclusive.
Farmers at the meet demanded the removal of the three farm laws which was earlier refused by the Centre. On the other hand, Union agricultural minister Narendra Singh said that the government listened to all problems of farmers. Government has no ego. It was discussing with farmers with an open mind. Farmers are concerned that the new laws will end APMCs,” he added.
Singh was joined by Union railways minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Prakash. Another round of talks will be held on Saturday.
While the Centre has maintained that the new farm laws, which were introduced in September would eliminate middlemen and enable famers to sell their produce in commercial markets, farmers fear that big corporations would exercise control over them. Furthermore, farmers also fear they would be denied the right to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, thereby disrupting timely payments.
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Farmers block Ghaziabad-Delhi stretch on NH-9
Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh blocked the National Highway-9 near the UP Gate and those from Punjab and Haryana stayed put at other border points leading to the Delhi as the protests against Centre's three farm bills continued for over eight days.
First published: Dec 04, 2020 06:25 IST