Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated on Sunday that the government had no intentions to reinstate the three farm laws.
"The administration has no intention of reviving farm laws. To honor farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to abolish agriculture reform laws. The Congress is propagating misleading information in order to conceal its failure" Tomar stated
Tomar's remarks came a day after the Congress alleged that the Centre was plotting a "conspiracy" to reintroduce the three farm laws. Notably, at a discussion regarding the three farm bills on Friday, the Union Agriculture Minister allegedly stated that the government took a "step back" and "will move forward again."
Tomar stated at Agro-vision in Nagpur, "Mere kahne ka aashay yah bilakul nahin tha jo dikhaya ja raha hai." Maine yeh kaha tha ki krishi sudhaar kanoon ke drishti se ham peechhe hate hain, kisan ke bhalaee ke lie lagataar Bharat sarkar aage badhtee rahegee... (I didn't mean to state what is depicted. Krishi sudhaar kanoon dubaara se laane ka sarkar ka koee vichaar nahin hai.
I had said that we have retreated on the agricultural reform laws, but the Government of India will continue to work for the wellbeing of farmers... The government has no plans to reintroduce the farm reform measure.)"
"The Government of India enacted agriculture reform laws for the benefit of farmers. The government and the prime minister had a huge heart and decided to abolish the farm laws to put an end to the farmers' agitation in light of the 75th year anniversary of independence," Tomar continued.
In the last seven and a half years, the government has taken several "historic initiatives" for the welfare of farmers and the growth of the agriculture sector, according to the minister.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, was passed by Parliament last month, repealing three farm laws – the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 – and amending the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Farmers, largely from Punjab and Haryana, have been demonstrating at Delhi's borders for the last one year, demanding repeal of these laws.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his government's intention to repeal the three farm laws on November 19.
