New Delhi: The government on Sunday asked protesting farmers’ unions to specify their concerns over its earlier proposal of amendments in the new agricultural laws and choose a convenient date for the next round of talks so that the ongoing agitation could end at the earliest.In a letter to 40 union leaders, Union agriculture ministry joint secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the Centre is making all efforts with “an open heart” to find an appropriate solution to resolve all the concerns raised by farmers.Five rounds of talks between the government and the unions have failed to break the deadlock, with the farmers insisting on a total repeal of the three laws and camping at various border points of Delhi for over three weeks now.Aggarwal said that in its draft proposal sent on December 9, the government had proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including providing a “written assurance” to the farmers that the existing minimum support price (MSP) system would continue.But the unions had rejected the proposal in an email sent by Krantikari Kisan Union state president Darshan Pal on December 16. They argued that the proposal was inadequate and accused the government of being “insincere”.Also read: India’s Farm Protests: A Basic Guide to the Issues at StakeIn the latest letter which was also sent to Pal, Aggarwal said the farmer unions’ response to the government’s draft proposal was “very brief”. It does not specify the reason for rejecting the draft proposal. “It is not clear if the views are yours (Pal) or of all unions,” he said in the letter in Hindi.Aggarwal requested that the union leaders who have been in talks with the government provide details of their remaining concerns and doubts over its draft proposal, and “suggest a date as per convenience for the next round of talks”.The government intends to convene the next meeting at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi for resolving the issue so that the ongoing protests end at the earliest, he added. The letter also mentioned that the government held meetings with several other farmers’ organisations and sought their suggestions on the matter.Earlier in the day, home minister Amit Shah said it is likely that Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar will in a day or two meet the union leaders.Also read: Farmers’ Protests: With Emotional Appeal Running High, Modi Govt Has Lost the PlotHunger strike on Monday, no toll collection in HaryanaFarmers on Sunday announced that they will observe a day-long relay hunger strike on Monday at all sites of protest here and halt toll collection on highways in Haryana from December 25 to 27.Farmer leaders also urged people to beat utensils on December 27 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, the same way the prime minister had asked people in March to beat ‘thalis’ (steel plates).“Farmers will begin a day-long relay hunger strike on Monday at all sites of protest against the new agri laws. It will be started by a team of 11 members at protests sites here, including the Singhu border,” Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said and added that “we appeal to everyone at all protest sites across the nation to participate in the same”.“Protesters are being threatened by the Haryana government. This is against the direction of the Supreme Court. I urge them to stop harassing farmers from tomorrow,” he said at a press conference at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border.The Supreme Court on Thursday had said that the farmers agitation should be allowed to continue “without impediment” and this court will not “interfere” with it as the right to protest is a fundamental right. It had also put a sole caveat that there should not be any breach of peace either by farmers or police.While announcing the next move by protesting farmers after their hunger strike, farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dalewala said farmers will halt toll collection on highways in Haryana from December 25 to 27.“From December 25 to 27 all toll booths in Haryana will not be allowed by us to collect toll, we will halt them from doing so. On December 27, our prime minister will say his ‘Mann ki baat’ and we want to appeal to the people to beat ‘thalis’ during his address, the same way the PM had asked the country to bang utensils for coronavirus,” the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader said at the press conference.When the prime minister will speak, “we appeal to the people of the entire country to bang utensils in your houses throughout the duration of his programme to drown out his Mann Ki Baat”, he said. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is Modi’s monthly radio address.Farmer leader and senior BKU member Rakesh Tikait, who was also part of the press conference, said that farmers protesting the new agri laws will celebrate Kisan Diwas on December 23 and “we request people to not cook lunch for a day”.Earlier in the day, the protesting agriculturists paid tributes to farmers who died during the agitation and also lit candles in their memory.The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) also wrote to various traders’ unions requesting their support to the ongoing farmers’ agitation.Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, UP and some other states are protesting against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. They believe that the government has passed these laws at the behest of big companies, without looking into the concerns of farmers.(With PTI inputs)