Gwalior: Even as the farmers’ protests continued unabated Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had a different angle to offer. He said farmers in India country are supporting the three agri laws. However, cultivators from Punjab are being ‘misled’ into protest by the Opposition. However, Narendra Singh Tomar expressed hope to find a solution ‘soon’ to the ongoing impasse.
Speaking to reporters here, Tomar said talks were being held with farmer organisations, including those from Punjab.
“We are talking to farmer organisations and also those from Punjab. We will soon find a solution on the issue. The opposition is trying to mislead farmers, but it will not succeed,” Tomar said.
“Majority of farmers in India are supporting the new farm laws. Many organisations have met me on this issue. Farmers of Punjab are a little angry, but we will find a solution soon,” the minister informed.
Later, addressing a programme under the BJP’s campaign to educate farmers on the farm laws, Tomar said the government was open for talks with agriculturists 24 hours. However the Congress and Leftist parties are bent on ‘maligning’ the image of the Narendra Modi government.
“Farmers in India are supporting the new agriculture laws but the Opposition is misleading cultivators from Punjab and therefore they are agitating,” Tomar asserted.
Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting for more than two weeks against the three farm laws. They have said the new legislation will lead to the dismantling of the MSP (Minimum Support Price). They have said that the laws will also affect the mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of corporates.
Tomar said the Congress had announced in its manifesto about introducing new agriculture laws. However, when the ‘Modi government has done that, they are having problems’.
“There are mostly small farmers in India. Recently the government allocated Rs 1.5 lakh crore under the head ‘farmers’ infrastructure. This was done so that they can do world class farming. To achieve this purpose, it was necessary to change the old agri laws,” the Union Minister said.
Tomar claimed the agri laws will not only change the face of agriculture, but also of India.
“The Modi government is sensitive towards the problems of farmers. It has asked farmers to point out provisions which they feel are harmful to them (their interests),” the BJP leader said.