Narendra Singh Tomar urges farmers to ‘go home’ ahead of farm law repeal in Parliament

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday urged farmers to end their agitation, days ahead of the introduction of a bill to repeal the three farm laws in Parliament.

“After the announcement of the repeal of the three farm laws, there is no point in continuing farmers’ agitation. I urge farmers to end their agitation and go home,” Tomar told ANI.

On Monday, Tomar is expected to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha to repeal the three farm laws. The BJP has issued a whip to all of its Lok Sabha members to ensure that they are present on the day. 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced last week that the three contentious farm bills would be repealed. Farmers’ unions have praised the Prime Minister’s announcement, but have stated that the protest will continue until the laws are formally repealed and other demands are met. Farmers have also announced that they will march to Parliament on Monday, with 60 tractors and over 1,000 people, to demonstrate their resolve in this matter, according to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait. 

The Union Agriculture Minister stated that a committee would be formed to discuss the concerns raised by the farmers.

“PM Narendra Modi has announced to constitute a committee to deliberate on the issues of crop diversification, zero-budget farming and making minimum support price (MSP) system more transparent and effective,” Tomar said.

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Farmers’ organisations would be represented on this committee, according to the agriculture minister. 

He added that the government had agreed to the farmers’ demand that stubble burning be decriminalised. 

Thousands of farmers have gathered on the outskirts of the capital, New Delhi, to protest the three farm laws. The laws are being repealed just days before crucial elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.