NEW DELHI, Dec 15 - As a standoff continued between the government and groups of protesting farmers over three new farm laws, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said the Acts have been welcomed in various states across the country but the Centre is willing to continue its talks with �genuine farm unions� to find a solution with an open mind.
He also said that the Minimum Support Price (MSP), at which the government commits to procure the produce from farmers, is an administrative decision and it �will continue as it is�.
Tomar�s comments followed a meeting with members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) from Uttar Pradesh, who submitted a memorandum to the Minister with suggestions regarding the Farm Acts and the MSP.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) has also decided to end for now its protest, which it was holding at district levels in Uttar Pradesh. They have not been part of nearly 40 farmers� groups that have been protesting on various borders of the national capital and had attended the recent rounds of talks with the Centre without any breakthrough.
According to the Ministry�s statement, Tomar thanked the BKU (Kisan) leaders for coming out in support of the Farm Acts and said these laws have been welcomed in various states across the country.
�He (Tomar) further added that the Government is willing to continue dialogue with genuine farm unions and is willing to find a solution with an open mind,� the statement said.
The BKU (Kisan) leaders suggested that farmers be given an option of going to civil courts in case of a dispute. They also suggested that the Panchayat head should be accorded the same importance as the head of the mandi to safeguard the rights of the farmers in small towns and villages. � PTI
