Expressing hope that the farmer protest movement would end soon, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar exuded confidence that a consensus between the government and the farmers would to be reached soon.
Tomar claimed that some people are obstructing the progress to a solution and wonders why they are hindering the same. He said that only the “real farmer leaders” will come forward and find a way out.
Tomar questions the logic of people asking for all the three laws to be withdrawn and why the decision is being stalled. The minister has led four of the five rounds of talks with farmer representatives. Apart from this, he was also present during the meeting of farmer leaders on December 8 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Tomar said, "There is not a single person among the farmer representatives in the true sense who can say that he alone can talk about the farmers and the new laws. Wherever there are objections, issues should be discussed with the government."
Addressing the rationale of the opposition on the reforms, the minister clarified that every transformation raises concerns in the minds of the public and the government is playing its part to remove doubts and the stakeholders should be finding a solution soon.
Listing the benefits to the farmers from the new agricultural laws implemented by the Centre, he said, "The new laws provide farmers the freedom to sell their crops anywhere in the country at the desired price. They guarantee payment of prices within 3 days. The laws provides that the farmers sitting at home get a nationwide price."
Also read: Vikas Dubey's fan pages vanished as police begins investigation
Tomar said that if there is no tax on farmers' purchase of crops, they will also get the benefit because they will get higher prices due to no tax.
Describing the specialty of the contract farming law, he said that this law only allows the contract of the crop and the law has a provision to fix the price before sowing the crop. He said that this law will attract farmers to cultivate expensive crops and use technology, as well as cultivate according to global standards, their products will be used in food processing, and it will definitely benefit the farmers and their produce They will get reasonable and remunerative prices.
The minister clarified that the apprehension on farmers' land under the new laws is baseless.
Clarifying the provision for settlement of disputes, he said that in case of any dispute, it will be settled within 30 days at the SDM level and its appeal can go up to the Collector.
Farmers have been camping since November 26 on the borders of Delhi. Leaders of agitating farmer organisations want repeal of the three new laws implemented by the Centre - the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Agreement Act 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
The farmers are stubbornly steadfast with their demands while the government has offered to amend these laws and is also clarifying the intentions to the farmers. Also, some farmer groups’ leaders of Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Punjab met the minister and assured their support on the three farm laws.