Farmers’ Protest Live Updates: Govt ready to consider any provision in farm laws where farmers have issues, says Tomar

Farmers Protest in Delhi Live News Updates: Farmers have been camping in the bitter cold at Delhi’s borders for 15 days now. At least seven farmers have died, four in accidents and three of natural causes.

Farmers’ Protest Live Updates:  As the ongoing farmers’ protest entered day 15, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday reiterated that the new farm laws don’t affect APMCs or MSP and said the government ready to hold further discussions with farmers. Addressing a press conference, Tomar said, “We sent a proposal to farmers. They wanted that laws be repealed. We are of the stand that govt is ready for open-minded discussions on provisions they have an objection against. Laws don’t affect APMCs or MSP. We tried to explain this to farmers.”

A 20-page proposal offered by the Centre was rejected by farmer unions on Wednesday for being “vague”. Farmers, who are steadfast in their demand that the three farm laws be repealed, said any further talks with the government would be based on the proposals they receive.

Farmers have threated to intensify their agitation by blocking more highways leading to Delhi. On December 14, they said the residences of BJP leaders, ministers and offices would be gheraoed, and dharnas would take place at district headquarters across the country. In the southern states, the protests would continue indefinitely.

In its proposal, the Centre had offered significant concessions including a written assurance on continuation of minimum support price (MSP)-based procurement and ensuring parity in transactions inside and outside existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis. The proposal had been sent a day after 13 farmer leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, a delegation of senior Opposition leaders, led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja, submitted a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind Wednesday, urging him to persuade the government to repeal the contentious laws. “We urge upon you, as the custodian of the Indian Constitution, to persuade ‘your government’ not to be obdurate and accept the demands raised by India’s annadatas,” the petition read.

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