Sukhbir  Badal asks Tomar to hold fresh talks with agitating farmers instead of rejecting discussion on repeal of agri laws

(Expresses shock at Agri minister’s assertion that three farm laws were in the interest of farmers)

Chandigarh, June 9 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked union agriculture minister Narendra Tomar to hold fresh talks with agitating farmers to understand why they wanted the three farm laws to be repealed instead of sprinkling salt on their wounds by out rightly rejecting this demand.

Calling upon the NDA government to be sensitive to the pain and anguish of farmers who were agitating against the three farm laws, the SAD President said “it is shocking that the NDA government is effectively telling farmers that there is no space for discussion in a democracy”. He said it was equally more shocking that besides ruling out any talks on taking back the three black laws, Mr Narendra Tomar had asserted that the agricultural laws were in the interest of farmers. “It seems the NDA government is firm in its desire to toe the line of the corporate sector which wants an end to the minimum support price system and assured government purchase of food grains. There can be no other reason for rejecting the appeal of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to hold talks to resolve the crisis”.

 Badal it was unfortunate that the central government had still not realized the ills of the three agricultural laws despite holding a number of rounds of talks with Kisan leaders. “This indicates that it is firm on being intransigent and not accepting the genuine demands of the farmers at any cost. Simultaneously the government has done everything within its power to suppress the peaceful and democratic movement and continues to attempt to dislodge farmers from the Singhu and Tikri protest sites”.

Asserting that the agitating farmers could not hold talks on issues other than repeal of the three black laws, Badal said “this has already been made very clear to the centre. The farmers have rejected all overtures which are aimed at destabilizing the Kisan Andolan without accepting the core demand for repeal of the farm laws. I appeal to  Narendra Tomar to hold unconditional talks with the agitating farmers and accept their demands in the interest of the farming community”