Pictures from inside Vigyan Bhavan showed the two ministers being served langar
New Delhi:
Union ministers Narendra Tomar and Piyush Goyal joined the farmers for lunch during today’s negotiations, which have been described as a “decisive meeting”.
Images from inside Vigyan Bhavan, where the sixth round of negotiations is taking place, showed the two ministers being served the langar (communal meals) that farmers bring from outside.
Until now, during each failed round of meetings, farmers have consistently refused to participate in the government-hosted lunch. They always had langar, brought by a waiting truck.
“They offered us food, we refused, and they are taking our langar, which we have brought with us,” a peasant leader had said during the meeting held in November. “We do not accept the food or tea that the government offers,” another peasant leader had said.
On several occasions they have asked participating ministers to join them, invitations that have been politely declined.
The government has been waiting for a breakthrough in this round that will help resolve the protests that have been raging on the Delhi borders since late November.
Before the meeting, Union Minister Som Prakash, who is part of the three-member team leading the negotiations, said it would be “decisive” and that the government wants them to “celebrate the New Year at home”.
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