Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said that the Centre has no plans to introduce farm laws again, adding that his statement during a programme was misquoted.
The clarification from the Union Minister came after Congress alleged that the Centre was planning to bring back the three farm laws (that have now been repealed) with amendments after the Assembly elections in five states. Tomar said, “The agricultural reform laws were brought by the Government of India for the betterment of the farmers. The Government of India and the Prime Minister have withdrawn those laws in order to end the farmers’ movement. My statement during the Agro Vision program was misquoted. I had said that we have retreated from the stance of the farm laws, but for the betterment of the farmers, the Government of India will continue to move forward. There should be no misunderstanding in this matter. The Centre has no plan to introduce farm laws again,” he added.
Earlier, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala said, “Tomar’s statement has once again exposed the Centre’s conspiracy to bring back the three anti-farmer laws. It is clear that after the Assembly elections in five states, the Central government is planning to bring back the three black laws in a new form and this they are doing under the pressure of capitalists.”
The Congress leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apologised and repealed the three “black” laws in Parliament fearing defeat in the election of the five states.
Reacting to Tomar’s statement, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that the remark was intended to deceive farmers and would also humiliate the Prime Minister. Tikait has threatened to restart agitation if the farm laws are re-introduced by the Centre.
“Narendra Singh Tomar’s statement ‘moved a step back, will move forward again’ is full of deception towards the farmers and humiliating towards the Prime Minister of the nation. BKU condemns such irresponsible statements. Delhi is not far from the farmers anymore,” the BKU leader tweeted in Hindi.