Narendra Singh Tomar urges protesting farmers to come back for table talks

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, on Saturday, urged protesting farmer unions to droop the agitation and come back to negotiation table for talks.

“We have had 11 rounds of dialogue with protesting farmer unions. We are ready for another rounds of talks. I urge them to call off agitation and vacate the roads which is causing immense inconvenience to public,” Tomar advised ET on the day farmer unions blocked Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway disrupting site visitors on Delhi-Chandigarh route. The unions have additionally given a name to block KMP-KGP freeway on Sunday for 24 hours

Tomar mentioned that majority of farmers and farm specialists have appreciated the farm laws, that are set to remodel the lives of farmers.

He mentioned that protesting unions ought to come up with contemporary proposal to break the ice and begin discussions once more.

“The government is ready for a dialogue. We had given them proposal to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and a half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the legislations and also issues related to minimum support price. But they rejected our proposal and have been continuing with the agitation,” he mentioned.

Tomar mentioned that protesting unions mustn’t proceed with the agitation when talks are on and their calls for are being mentioned.

“No where in the world such thing happens. When government is ready to listen to their demands, unions should not stage agitation. They have their democratic right to protest when their demand are not being heard,” he mentioned.

Showing deep concern for farmers agitating amid contemporary wave of Covid-19 and hostile climate situations, Tomar urged them to return to their properties and begin discussions to attain a conclusion.

“During winters also, I had urged protesting unions to send elderly farmers, women and children to homes. But they didn’t heed to my request. I request them to return to their homes,” Tomar mentioned.