NEW DELHI: Hours before the fifth round of talks between the government and protesters over the contentious farm laws, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house, say sources, adding the centre may consider amending the laws. Amid growing support, thousands of farmers camping around Delhi-borders are insistent on the laws being repealed.

Two rounds of talks this week have fallen through despite repeated assurances from the centre on the minimum support price or MSP. This is the biggest farmers' protest in years and numbers continue to swell at Delhi's borders amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected over 96 lakh people across India.

PM Modi is believed to have been briefed about the changes in the contentious laws at the first such meeting at his house amid the protests, say sources. Today's talks - the third in a week - will take place at 2 pm at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan where Mr Tomar and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will be present.

"Farmers' doubts will be cleared in today's meeting with the centre. In recent meetings, some issues were clarified. It's politics by opposition... they're instigating the protest. The meeting will be fruitful and we expect farmers will roll back protest," Junior Agriculture Minister Kailash Choudhary said today. Home Minster Amit Shah has met Rajnath Singh, Mr Tomar, Mr Goyal several times this week over the issue, say sources.

Thursday's talks fell through after the farmers' representatives made a 39-point presentation on the inadequacies of the laws. They've refused piecemeal changes and have demanded written assurance on the MSP. They say the new laws will leave them at the mercy of corporates.

A nationwide shutdown has been called by the protesting farmers on Tuesday (December 8). Last evening, as 40 farmers' union met at Delhi-Haryana border, they said they'll block all roads to the national capital, adding they'll also occupy all highway toll gates across the country.

The government has defended the new laws and said they only give an option to farmers to sell to private buyers. Before the massive protest began last week, the centre had held similar discussions twice before, trying to convince farmers that new agricultural laws are meant to bring reforms.

A petition filed in the Supreme Court on Friday sought immediate removal or shifting of the protesting farmers, quoting the top court's judgment on the protests against the centre's controversial citizenship law. "Life of lakhs of people protesting at Delhi Borders is at immediate threat. If by chance this coronavirus disease takes the shape of community spread, it will cause a havoc in the country," said the petition.

Thousands of farmers - who were met with barricades, water cannons and tear gas as they marched to the capital city - have cut off major entrances to Delhi. Traffic has been disrupted on key roads near the borders with the neighbouring states - Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

At least three deaths have been recorded during these protests and the farmers said it would be "inhuman" on the centre's part - given the cold weather - to drag this out any further. Punjab government on Thursday announced financial assistance of ₹ 5 lakh each to the families of two farmers who died during protests against the Centre's farm laws.