CHANDIGARH
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday asked Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar to hold fresh talks with agitating farmers to understand why they wanted the three farm laws to be repealed instead of outrightly rejecting this demand.
Calling upon the NDA government to be sensitive to the pain and anguish of farmers who were agitating against the three farm laws, the SAD President said, “it is shocking that the NDA government is effectively telling farmers that there is no space for discussion in a democracy”. He added that it was equally more shocking that besides ruling out any talks on taking back the three laws, Narendra Tomar had asserted that the agricultural laws were in the interest of farmers.
“It seems the NDA government is firm in its desire to toe the line of the corporate sector which wants an end to the minimum support price system and assured government purchase of food grains. There can be no other reason for rejecting the appeal of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to hold talks to resolve the crisis,” said Badal. He asserted that it was unfortunate that the Central government has still not realised the ills of the three agricultural laws despite holding several rounds of talks with Kisan leaders.
“This indicates that they are firm on being intransigent and not accepting the genuine demands of the farmers at any cost. Simultaneously, the government has done everything within its power to suppress the peaceful and democratic movement and continues to attempt to dislodge farmers from the Singhu and Tikri protest sites,” added Badal.
Insisting that the agitating farmers could not hold talks on issues other than the repeal of the three black laws, Badal said, “this has already been made very clear to the Centre. The farmers have rejected all overtures that are aimed at destabilising the Kisan Andolan without accepting the core demand for repeal of the farm laws. I appeal to Narendra Tomar to hold unconditional talks with the agitating farmers and accept their demands in the interest of the farming community.”