Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said the government has been sensitive in its talks with farmer unions who are demanding repeal of three farm laws and is ready for discussions.
The minister said that during talks, the government gave “one-sided” proposals in favour of farmers but the protesting unions rejected them all without giving any reason. He said the government asked farmers to come up with their proposal but they have no proposal and that’s why were not coming for talks.
“During talks, the government gave them one-sided proposals (in their favour). The farmers refused to accept them without giving any reason. We then asked about their proposal and asked them to come with it,” the minister told ANI.
“Farmers’ unions have no proposal and that is why they are not coming for talks. I want to tell farmers’ unions that we are ready to talk whenever they want discussion,” he added.
The government and protesting unions have earlier held several rounds of talks. The minister said that the Modi government has been working for the welfare of farmers for the past seven years.
“The government is trying to make farmers prosperous. 1.8 crore farmers have received 1.37 lakh crore in PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. MSP has been increased. Farmers’ contribution to GDP is increasing also,” the minister added. (ANI)
Tomar also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of “misleading farmers” on three new farm laws and asked if the Congress leader was “lying” in the party’s manifesto for last Lok Sabha elections which talked of the repeal of APMC Act and freeing restrictions in inter-state trade of agricultural produce.
Taking a dig at Gandhi over his coming to Parliament on a tractor, Tomar said he does not have a right to represent farmers. Tomar also criticised Gandhi for violating traffic rules when he drove the tractor with party leaders to parliament. “I want to tell Rahul Gandhi not to mislead farmers as he does not have the right to represent farmers,” the minister told ANI.
“It is because of his shallow thinking he has lost the position of leader who is accepted by all in his party. Rahul Gandhi is responsible for the state Congress is in the country,” he added.
Gandhi had said he has brought a message from protesting farmers who are demanding repeal of the three farm laws. “Several traffic rules were broken as so many people rode the tractor. This violation of traffic rules is condemnable and it does not set the right precedent,” Tomar said.
He said Gandhi has to clarify whether he was lying or Congress lied when it listed provisions that reflect some of the spirits of farm laws in the party’s election manifesto. “Rahul Gandhi should clarify whether Rahul Gandhi was lying when (several provisions) of these laws were part of their election manifesto. Was he lying then or lying now? Rahul Gandhi has to explain this from Congress side,” Tomar said.