Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday reiterated that the Government is ready to talk with the protesting farmers but yet again asked their unions to come up with logical objections to the provisions of the three farm laws.
“All political parties of the country wanted to bring the farm laws, but they could not gather courage to bring them. The Modi government took this big step in the interest of farmers and brought reforms. Farmers got the benefit of that in several parts of the country. But in the meantime farmers’ agitation started,” Tomar said at the Cabinet briefing.
He said the Government held 11 rounds of talks with farmers and Unions were asked about their objections in the laws and which provisions they think were against farmers. “But neither the leader of any political party gave its answer in the House (Parliament) nor any farmers’ leader, and the talks did not move forward”. The minister said that the government is committed towards farmers and it also respects farmers.
“So, whenever farmers want discussions, Government of India will be ready for discussion. But we have repeatedly asked them to tell the objections in the provisions with logic. We will listen and find a solution,” Tomar said. The government and unions have held 11 rounds of talks, the last being on January 22, to break the deadlock and end the farmers’ protest. Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26.
Reacting on Tomar’s statement, the farmers’ leaders said that the government’s attitude is unjustifiable and unreasonable, and is resting on ego and optics-games. Condemning the government’s approach, the farmers leaders said that the farmer agitation is going to complete nearly 200 days of protests at Delhi’s Borders and 502 farmers have sacrificed their lives in the movement.