Ahead of the fifth round meeting on Saturday, the Centre is hopeful of resolution of the standoff with agitating farmers and may be ready to “bring amendments”, said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
“The Government’s intention towards Minimum Support Price (MSP) is very clear. I assure you that there will be no change in MSP. Discussions are going on and both sides have agreed on some points. We will meet again on Saturday. I am sure we will get a solution,” Tomar told a news channel.
“Continuous discussions are going on, both have agreed on some points. Government of India is in talks with kisan unions and the meetings are on positive note,” Tomar said. He urged political parties not to politicise the whole movement.
Tomar said the Government has no ego and it has an open mind.
As per the tone and tenor of the Government, it is open to making some key changes to the farm Acts, and would consider ways to strengthen mandis, create a level-playing field with proposed private markets, and freedom to approach higher courts for dispute resolutions in a bid to address the concern raised by protesting farmers’ groups. The Government also assured that procurement at MSP will continue.
Farmers fear the reforms could pave the way for the Government to stop buying staples at federally fixed minimum support prices MSPs, erode their bargaining power and leave them at the mercy of private buyers.