Farmers being instigated: Agriculture Minister in Parliament
What's the story
Amid massive protests against three farm reforms, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said farmers are being instigated and that the agitation is limited to just one state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said no one has been able to reveal "what is black in this law."
He reiterated that the current regime is committed to the welfare of farmers.
Proceedings
Day after Opposition cornered Centre, Tomar responded
Tomar was speaking in the Rajya Sabha, a day after Opposition leaders had slammed the Centre.
Manoj Jha from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had urged the Centre to stop the monologues, Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) member MV Shreyams said the treatment meted out to Farmers was similar to the Tiananmen Square incident, and Congress's Digvijaya Singh had claimed that the gap between the government's promises and implementation was huge.
Statement
Tomar said no one was able to highlight flaws
The minister announced that neither farmer unions nor Opposition parties are able to highlight a single flaw in the legislation.
"We are not standing on prestige. We have been asking what is black in this law and no one is forthcoming," he said.
He clarified that the government may have been ready to make amendments, but that doesn't imply the laws have problems.
Quote
'People in a particular state are misinformed'
"I made it clear that if the government is ready to make amendments, it doesn't mean there is any problem in farm laws. People in a particular state are misinformed," he said, hinting toward Congress-governed Punjab.
Statement
No one will snatch land of farmers: Tomar
Repeating what the government has said many times, Tomar asserted the laws don't allow anyone to take over farmers' land.
"Farmers are being misled that others would occupy their land if these laws are implemented. Let me know if there is a single provision in Contract Farming law which allows any trader to snatch the land of any farmer," he told the House.
Steps
Minister shed light on steps taken to help farmers
Turning attention to steps taken by the BJP government, the minister said even fruits and vegetables are being transported by trains.
"100 Kisan Rails, that are in a way mobile cold storage, have been started. They are helping farmers get a fair price of their produce," he said.
Tomar claimed minimum support price (MSP), which is 50% more than the production cost, is being offered.
Demands
Protesting for months now, farmers want government to repeal laws
Tomar led the government's talks with farmers in the last couple of months, assuring the protesters that their livelihoods won't be threatened.
However, his appeals failed to cut ice and farmers declared they won't settle for anything less than the repeal of laws.
The agitation took a frightful turn on R-Day when groups of farmers stormed into the Red Fort and hoisted Sikh flags.