Citing COVID-19 surge, Agriculture Minister urges farm unions to call off protest
The Hindu
The government is ready to resume talks whenever farmers come with a proposal, says Narendra Singh Tomar.
Citing the spike in COVID-19 cases, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has appealed to protesting farmers to withdraw their agitation, saying that the government is ready to resume talks whenever they come with a proposal. Farm unions have been protesting on the borders of Delhi for almost five months, demanding the repeal of three Central farm reform laws and asking for a legal guarantee that their crops would be bought at minimum support prices. COVID-19 cases have surged this week, with a record 1.45 lakh people testing positive on Saturday. “Now in the second wave of pandemic, the entire nation and the world is following COVID-19 protocols. Even protesting farmers should follow the protocols. Their life is important for us,” said Mr. Tomar, in a video message posted on his Twitter account on Saturday evening. “In the current COVID-19 situation, I urge them to call off their protest. The government is ready for a discussion whenever they come with a proposal,” the Minister added.
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