Talks between the Centre and farmer unions failed to make headway for the fifth time. While the government sought more time to present a concrete proposal and proposed another meeting on December 9, the farmers went on a ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) and sought a reply in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on their key demand of repealing the three new farm laws. They also threatened to walk out if the government was not willing to scrap the laws. Anjali Ojha reports