GOVERNMENT’S OFFER BEST FOR FARMERS, HOPE UNIONS WILL RECONSIDER IT: TOMAR

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday termed the Centre’s proposal to suspend new farm laws for up to 18 months as the “best offer” and hoped that the protesting farmers’ unions will soon reconsider it and convey their decision.

The talks between the government and protesting farm unions have remained inconclusive even after 11 rounds of talks. During the 10th round of talks, the government had offered a proposal to keep the new laws in abeyance for one-and-a-half years, but it was rejected by the unions.

“The government has given the best offer to farmers’ unions. I am hopeful that they will convey their decision to us after discussing it among themselves. Once they communicate, we will take it forward,” Tomar told PTI.

A day ahead of the Republic Day tractor rally by farmers in Delhi, the minister also hoped that the agitation against the farm laws which has been going on for almost two months, will end soon. “The protest will end soon,” Tomar told in another interview with ANI.

“Naturally, we are a democracy and everyone has the right to protest if one does not agree with something and present their view. When we see that some farmers, though are very few in numbers, are protesting then we should solve the crisis through talks and government is still hopeful of a solution,” he said.

The minister, however, said that he is sad that dialogue did not yield result due to a “few farmer unions from Punjab”.

“I am sad that there are few farmer unions and the majority of them are from Punjab have objections on these laws and we respected that objections and had started the dialogue but during 11th round of talks when there was no way ahead we gave a proposal of suspending the new farm laws for 1.5 years. We even said that we can approach the Supreme Court to say we defer implementation of laws and in meanwhile we can work things out through a committee,” said Tomar.

The minister also said that the government is committed towards the welfare of farmers and agriculture. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we ushered in many schemes and farmers are getting benefit from it. The MSP too has been raised. That farmers get attracted towards commercial crops and prospering, the government is reforming policies,” he added.

Tomar said that farmers and the police administration have the responsibility to ensure a peaceful tractor parade on Tuesday. “I think that the farmers could have chosen another day other than republic day. But they announced the tractor parade and police have given them permission and both will try to ensure that it happens without any untoward incident. Both have the responsibility to ensure that it happens peacefully,” he said. WITH AGENCY INPUTS