Ready for ‘reforms’ in new farm laws, says Agriculture Minister Tomar days after talks collapse

In a conciliatory statement, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar  on Friday said the government was ‘ready for reforms’ in new farm laws. This comes days after agitating farmers, seeking repeal of these laws, rejected the Centre’s proposals for breaking the deadlock.

“We agree that we are not the over-ruling power and Unions might also have something in their mind. So, the government is ready to make reforms in the laws after talks, ” said Tomar, reports ANI.

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This comes on the heels of the failure of several rounds of talks between the government and the farmers. After the last round of negotiations with Home Minister Amit Shah on December 9, the farmers had agreed to wait for the proposals from the government. But the proposals that were sent, were rejected by the farmers the very next day.

The farmers, who have been sitting on a dharna along the Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also decided to intensify their agitation by blocking more highways and ghereoing the BJP office on December 14.

The minister added that the government, through its proposals, had made an effort to suggest a solution to their objections. “They should leave agitation and take the path of discussion.  The Government is ready for talks,” Tomar added.

“I think we will find a solution. I am hopeful. I would like to urge the Farmer Unions that they should break the deadlock,” Tomar said adding that the government was yet to receive a proposal of talks from the farmers.

The farmers want that the laws that were promulgated in September must be repealed as they were allegedly ‘anti-farmer’. Among other things, they say the law does away with the MSP and helps the big corporates.