Agriculture Minister Tomar: Proposal sent to allay farmers' concerns
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar held a press conference amidst the farmers protest in Delhi.
He started the conference by talking about the attack on Nadda and team in West Bengal.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was also present in the conference. He also condemned the attack that happened on BJP Nadda in West Bengal.
Further, Narendra Tomar addressed the press about the Agriculture laws. He said that the laws were discussed in both the houses. PM Modi wanted the farmers to come out of Mandis and wanted to protect the farmers.
He said, "The government wanted to liberate the farmers of the shackles of mandi so that they could sell their produce anywhere, to anyone, at their own price, outside the purview of mandi."
He also cited an example of Maharashtra farmers and how they were benefitted with the protest. Tomar said, "It is being projected that the land of farmers will be occupied by industrialists. Contract farming has been going on for long in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka but there has never been such experience."
He said that the government has no issue in discussing and making amendments in the law.
He quoted, "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 They wanted that laws be repealed.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."
Tomar also pointed out that during their talks with farmers, many said that farm laws are invalid as agriculture is State subject and Centre can't frame these laws. The Government clarified, we have the right to make laws on trade and explained it to them. APMC & MSP are not affected by it.
Narendra Singh Tomar said, "If the processor doesn't do it, then the owner of that infrastructure will be the farmer himself. This has been provided in the law."
"Law provides that if farmer and processor enter into an agreement and the type of crops is such that some infrastructure has to be set up on the farmer's land, then the processor will dismantle his infrastructure from there after the agreement concludes." he added.
He also said, "The entire country has witnessed that Swaminathan Commission report came in 2006, the recommendation about MSP at 1.5 times cost of production remained pending till Modi government implemented it."
"We have already made provision in the Act that agreement under these laws will only be between processors and farmers' produce. There is no provision for any lease or agreement over farmers' land." he said.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal also talked about the farm laws. He said, "There were some concerns that farmers will be forced to sell their produce in private market. This is completely erroneous, there is absolutely no provision in the law which brings an element of compulsion on any farmer."
The conference concluded by Narendra Tomar stating that the Centre is waiting for the farmers to come ahead and talk and the Government is ready to make the amendments, whenever the farmers are ready.
-PTC News
