Farm protests: 'Informal talks on, hopeful of early solution'

No point talking to those "shooting from peasants' shoulders"

New Delhi: As formal talks to end farmers' agitation against three farm laws remain deadlocked, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said the government is continuing informal discussions with various groups to end the stalemate but there was no point talking to those "shooting from peasants' shoulders".

The minister also hoped that a resolution should be reached before the year ends and asserted that the Modi government is committed to address all genuine concerns of the farming community.

He put the blame on opposition parties for misleading the farmers and accused them of changing their stance on the reform process and politicising the issue.

Speaking to the reporters, Tomar - who is leading the negotiations with about 40 farmer unions along with Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash - asserted that the three new farm laws are beneficial for farmers and the government was ready to give a written assurance that the minimum support price (MSP) and mandi system will continue.

Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at Delhi borders for more than three weeks. At least five rounds of formal talks have been held between the three Union Ministers and 40 farmer unions to break the deadlock, but the unions are demanding complete rollback of the central laws.

Whether the Supreme Court constituted committee will take over talks and find a solution or the government will continue its efforts, Tomar said the government has kept its doors open for negotiations with farm leaders and would wait for the Supreme Court's order for the next course of action.

"The matter is sub judice. After the court's order, we will study and take a call... We will wait for the court's direction." Farmer unions, who are concerned about peasants, should raise problems of the farming community so that the government can find a solution, the minister said, and asked Unions not to stress upon repealing the legislations that have been enacted for the benefit of farmers.

On farmers' unions asking the government not to hold "parallel talks" with other groups and "malign" the protesting farmers, he said, "Farm leaders, who are concerned about welfare of farmers, should discuss peasants' problems. Why should it matter if the acts are repealed or not?" The government can consider changes to the laws if they convince successfully the clause by clause objections, he said.

Asked on his recent remark that he would engage with "genuine" farm leaders, the minister said, "When I say genuine, I mean those who are really concerned about farmers. There is no point to talking with those who want to shoot from the shoulders of farmers." The government is there to resolve the farmers' problems, he said.

Asked how the government plans to give minimum support price assurance, Tomar said: "We will give in writing that till date the way MSP was continuing will continue in future as well. No one should have doubts on this."

Till date, MSP was in operation. Was it under any law?" he added. Noting that when intentions are right, solutions will definitely emerge, Tomar said the Modi government has enacted the three farm laws with clear intention and the outcome will also be good.

Asked if the farmers issue will be resolved before 2020, he said, "Yes. I have full hope... Everyone has their own agenda. My agenda is 'kisan'. Tell me which provision of the farm laws are hurting farmers and convince me. We are ready for discussion."

On Akali Dal's charge that BJP was real 'Tukde-Tukde gang' and wanted to divide Hindu-Muslim and now Hindu-Sikh, he said: "The political parties should not do politics in the name of farmers. These are the same parties which supported these reforms during elections. The party which you are mentioning is opposing after the laws were passed and till this protest." "In the Congress election manifesto for the 2019 general election, in Punjab's assembly poll manifesto, be it Congress, Akali Dal or AAP, all have talked about reforms. Now they are changing their stand," he said.

"My effort is to speak to farmers' leaders so that we are able to resolve their problems," he said. In the previous five rounds of talks, the minister said the government asked the union leaders to share their objections on provisions of the acts but they could not share clause by clause concerns and therefore the Centre sent a draft proposal suggesting few amendments. (PTI)

Laxmi Devi & Manvendra Jha