Centre says wrong to announce new protests while talks are on
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that it had been “wrong” for the farmers unions to announce new protests, or their intentions to accentuate their stir, while talks between the Centre and therefore the farmers was still on. “The path of intensified protests should only be chosen when negotiations have weakened completely,” he added.
‘Earnestly’ appeal to farmers to prevent stir, says Piyush Goyal
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was, is, and always are going to be committed to the farmers’ causes. We also are conscious that a lot of farmers across the country have supported the laws. The recent poll results show that farmers have reposed their faith within the Modi government,” Union minister Piyush Goyal said, adding that because the country is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, he “earnestly” appeals to the farmers and farmer unions should stop the protest and continue talks with the Centre.
‘Pained’ that farmers are protesting in weather amid COVID-19, says Centre
Narendra Singh Tomar said that he’s “pained” that the farmers are protesting at Delhi’s border amid a chilly wave and within the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to appeal to farmers to offer our proposal an idea . Government is prepared for dialogue whenever you would like ,” he added.
No instance of farmers’ land being occupied by industrialists, says Centre : Narendra Singh Tomar said that while farmers are concerned that their land might be occupied by industrialists under the new laws, “contract farming has been happening for long in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka but there has never been such experience.”
“Still, we’ve already made provision within the Act that agreement under these laws will only be between processors and farmers’ produce. there’s no provision for any lease or agreement over farmers’ land,” Tomar added.
Piyush Goyal says new laws aren’t mandatory, ‘farmers will now have choice’ Union minister Piyush Goyal also spoke over the sustained farmer protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws. He said that the laws are made “completely for the advantages of the farmers” and added that the news laws are “not mandatory but now provide farmers with a choice”.
Adding that the Centre introduced the PM Kisaan Nidhi Yojana to form the agriculture sector “aatmanirbhar” (self sufficient), Narendra Singh Tomar said that udner the new farm laws, the government has also allotted infrastructural benefits and provisions for the farmers.
He added that the govt is “open-minded” about dialogue on the difficulty and said, “We sent a proposal to farmers. They wanted that laws be repealed. We are of the stand that govt is prepared for open-minded discussions on provisions they have an objection against.
Laws don’t affect APMCs or MSP. We tried to elucidate this to farmers.
“During the talks, many said that farm laws are invalid as agriculture is State subject and Centre can’t frame these laws. We clarified, we have the proper to make laws on trade and explained it to them. APMC & MSP are not affected by it.”
MSP will continue, will provides it in writing to everyone: Tomar
Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated that the provision of minimum support price (MSP) won’t be affected by the new farm laws. “We will give this assurance in writing to anyone: Unions, farmers, farmer representatives,” Tomar said.
“The government wanted to liberate the farmers of the shackles of mandi so that they could sell their produce anywhere, to anyone, at his own price, outside the purview of mandi,” he added.
SDM is most accessible magisterial official for farmers, says Tomar
Addressing the farmers’ concern over the SDM being appointed together of the nodal officials for grievance redressal under the new farm laws, Narendra Singh Tomar said that the provision had been brought in because the SDM is that the “closest magisterial official” that the farmers can approach and access with their complaints directly.
Tomar says repeatedly asking for withdrawal of laws ‘not acceptable’
Union minister Tomar, giving each day by day account of the protests round the farm laws till Thursday, said that the Centre has been open to talks with the farmers “from the beginning”. However, he said, that the farmers’ insistence on the entire withdrawal of the laws is “not acceptable”.
Centre lists benefits of new farm laws:
Praising the Narendra Modi government for its work done for farmers, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar listed the claimed benefits of the new contentious farm laws, against which farmers across the nation are protesting for the last 15 days.
He added that the new laws will provide the farmers with fool proof grievance redressal through the SDM and added that the farmers will find a safety net within the new laws.