With Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar making a U-turn to pitch in support of the new farm laws saying they cannot be rejected in entirety but can be suitably amended, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday promptly welcomed his statement even as he pointed out that this has been the government stand too and it has been having a dialogue with farmers with this mindset only.
In a U-turn, Pawar speaking at an event of a private university in Mumbai, said that parts of contention that were causing grievances to farmers could be amended instead of the entire laws being scrapped. “Instead of rejecting the entire bill, we can demand amendment in the part about which the farmers have an objection,” he said.
Pawar had earlier spoken vehemently against the legislations saying that they will adversely affect the minimum support price (MSP) and weaken the country's mandi system. He went on to the extent of saying that “this government (Centre) is trying to destroy farmers...you can topple such a government”.
Tomar said that this has been the government stand and the government has been having a dialogue with farmers with this mindset only. “I welcome this statement of the former agriculture minister. I'd like to tell him that the Central government agrees with him. We have discussed this with the farmer union 11 times,” Tomar said. The solution will come out through talks,” Tomar added.
Tomar said that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to the development of farmers. In the last seven years, he said, the government has only taken measures that benefit the farmers and ensure that their profit increases.”Various schemes were introduced to benefit them. The change in farm laws was brought based on the recommendation of the Swaminathan Committee report that was submitted in 2006 to the UPA government that just sat over it without any apparent action” he said.
Both the government and farmers unions are adamant on their stands, that’s the reason 11 rounds of talks failed to break the deadlock and end the protests. Tomar has categorically stated that the government won’t repeal the three farm acts..
Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26. Notably, the Supreme Court has already put on hold the implementation of the laws till further orders and has set up a committee to find solutions, and it has already submitted its report.