Parkash Singh Badal and Bhupinder Hooda endorsed reforms in marketing in agriculture sector, Now Badal and Hooda, are opposing it : Puri

Opposition misleading farmers, Govt. open to talks : Puri

Chandigarh, Dec 16:

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said that the Centre has addressed all the major concerns that farmers had raised earlier be it that of the MSP or the mandis, but was still prepared to hold further talks with them if they have any grievances with regards to the three Agriculture bills.

He said demand for the repeal of the three bills was added after the Centre had conceded all other demands. While asserting that there was no mind to repeal the three bills he said the Centre was still open to hold talks.

       Addressing a virtual kisan sammelan he recalled how both, Parkash Singh Badal and Bhupinder Singh Hooda as chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana had endorsed reforms in marketing in agriculture sector during the UPA government times.All these reforms were being debated and discussed for long.

       “Now that the NDA government has legislated them both, Badal and Hooda, are opposing it”, he said. He said when the bills were brought to the Parliament for discussion fears were expressed by the House on two counts, MSP and mandis. On both the counts the government had assured the House that the MSP and the mandis would continue to function as usual. To dispel the misleading impression on the MSP the Centre this time preponed procurement of paddy at a higher rate and procured 20 per cent more than that of the last year.

       He said the Centre had held four rounds of talks with farmer leaders so far and was open to hold more talks, if needed. “Privately all farm leaders agree that their grievances have been resolved, but there seems to be pressure from other quarters that is making them not to withdraw their agitation”, Puri said. He said the opposition parties had been instigating and misleading farmers to carry on their protest.

       A misleading propaganda is being done that farmers’ land would be captured in the contract system. It is a completely wrong impression. The bills talk about the produce of the farmer, not about his land. The bills in fact empower farmers and protect all his interests”, he added.       Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma and general secretary Jiwan Gupta & Subhash Sharma later reassured farmers that the BJP would protect their interests to the hilt and they should withdraw their agitation and hold talks to resolve their doubts.