Government is ready to discuss the farm laws clause-by-clause with farmers: Agri Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told media outlets on Monday that the Center is able to discuss the farm legislation clause-by-clause with farmers. “We have sent our written proposal to farmers and we are waiting for their response for the next round of talks. These three bills are for the welfare of the farmers,” he said.

In a letter to the Punjab Government, the Ministry of Transport of the Union stated that the farmers’ agitation caused a loss of Rs 3 crore every day in toll plaza revenues. Farmers’ outfits also liberated toll plazas in Punjab and a few other states to demonstrate their frustration with the laws of agriculture.

Representatives of as many as 10 farmers from different countries, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar, met with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday. Farmer leaders associated with the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC) have extended their assistance to the Farm Law Centre. Tomar also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP members and MLAs from Haryana at his official residence.

Sankyukta Kisan Morcha published a pamphlet on Monday, a union of 40 farmers’ outfits spearheading the agitation. In the booklet, the Farmers’ Union apologised to the general public for the hardship created by the closing of the road as a result of the continuing protest.

“Blocking roads, troubling the public is not our aim. We are sitting here in need. However even if our agitation is causing you pain, we fold our hands and apologise,” read the pamphlet.

“Radical khalistani elements” are trying to take advantage of the ongoing crisis, told Union Minister Smriti Irani She went on to add, “What kind of a movement is this where people are raising slogans like ‘Death to Modi’? Political leaders like Arvind Kejriwal are playing politics over the issue of farmers.”

Hundreds of farmers marching to Delhi have been halted near Jaisinghpur-Khera in Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur to prevent them from crossing into Haryana. The farmers, who have set up camp on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, were joined on Monday by members of the All India Kisan Sabha and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the students’ and farmers’ wings of the CPI, respectively.