During all the past meetings between the leaders of the agitated farmer groups and the Center, the farmers brought their food cooked in langar set up at various protest sites, including the Singhu border. It became a statement by the farmers that they rejected government hospitality. So, in all past meetings, during lunchtime, the farmer leaders had lunch together while the ministers and other central representatives had lunch separately. Union leaders brought food or delivered it during lunchtime.
On Wednesday, however, another message was given and this time it was from ministers such as Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar joined the leaders during the lunch break. Peasant leaders served food to ministers.
After the latest round of talks was inconclusive on December 5, several attempts to hold another round of talks were to no avail, as farmers remained stern in their demand for an immediate withdrawal of the three farm laws they fear would they will corporatize agriculture. Meanwhile, the government conducted various outreach programs to explain that the government is pro-farmer and that the new laws will benefit them.
This meeting can break the ice between farmers and the Center, although the Center is unlikely to agree with the farmers’ demand to withdraw the laws. A middle way can be reached in today’s meeting, as both sides want to end the deadlock. The protest on the borders of Delhi has been going on for more than a month.
.
