Farmers' agitation: Narendra Singh Tomar requests old and women protesters to go back home

Amidst the fifth round of talks between the government and farmer unions failing to reach a consensus, the Centre has urged the protesting farmers to send home the old people and the women participating in these agitations.   

At the press meet the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, "I want to request protesting farmers to give up their movement so that they don't face inconvenience in this cold weather."

"Amid cold season and COVID-19, I have requested the farmer union leaders to appeal to senior citizens and children to return home from protesting sites," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters at Vigyan Bhawan on Saturday. 

He appealed to the farmers that the citizens of Delhi are facing inconvenience because of the protests at the borders. Many senior citizens and children have also joined the protests.

The farmers' agitation at the Delhi borders and national capital entered the tenth day on Saturday with a large number of farmers gathered in and around the national capital to protest against the three farm laws. 

Tomar asked the farmers to keep their faith in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that 'whatever will be done will be in their best interest'.

"I want to thank Farmers' unions for maintaining the discipline, since talks couldn't be completed today, we've called for another meeting on December 9," he said.

Tomar assured farmers saying, "Modi government was fully committed to you, and will remain so in future. Under PM Modi's leadership, several agricultural schemes have been implemented. Budget and MSP has also increased."

He remarked that it would have been nice if the farmers' leaders had given some suggestions. On the Minimum Support Price issue, he said that the MSP system will continue and there is "no threat to it."

The four previous meetings between the Centre and representatives of the farmers who are protesting against the new agriculture laws have remained inconclusive. 

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Food and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal are leading the talks with the farmer groups.