Even as farmers continued the protests at different inter-state borders between Delhi, Haryana and Punjab on Thursday, the third round of talks between farmer leaders and Union Ministers concluded in the evening.
Protesting farmers camped at Shambu-Ambala and Khanauri-Jind borders in large numbers on the third day of the protests.
There were no clashes or scuffles reported between the police forces and farmers, even though the border blockade set up by the police continued to exist.
The third meeting between Union Ministers and the farmer leaders ended with no final solution in sight.
The next round of the talks will take place on Sunday.
However, Union Minister Arjun Munda claimed that the dialogue with the farmer leaders was, “positive”.
“Today, a very positive discussion happened between the government and the farmers’ unions. Focusing on the topics highlighted by the farmers’ union, we have decided that the next meeting will take place on Sunday at 6 pm… We all will find a solution peacefully…,” he said.
The meeting, which was attended by the Union ministers and the 14 farmer union leaders, lasted for around five hours.
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, represented the central government at the meeting.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also present at the meeting.
Previous talks proved unfruitful, which compelled the farmers to come up with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
The first meeting between the farmer leaders and the union government took place on February 8, while the second was held on February 12.
As the protests enter the fourth day, the Haryana government has officially extended the internet shutdown in districts including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.
This is the third time that internet services have been suspended in the State this month, due to the protests.
Farmer bodies and workers’ unions have given a joint call for a sectoral industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Band on Friday.
A number of public intellectuals and artists issued a joint statement on Wednesday in support of the All India Strike.
