After SC Cognisance, Narendra Tomar Writes 8-Page Letter To Farmers; PM Urges Protesters To Read It

A major section of the protesting farmers has been demanding written assurances for the MSP of their produce from the Union Government.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. (File Photo/ PTI)

New Delhi: As the Farmer’s agitation is intensifying day by day and is set to enter the fourth week, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday wrote an 8-page letter to the farmers protesting against the three contentious farm laws. In the letter, Tomar has said that the Union Government is ready to give written assurance regarding MSP. A major section of the protesting farmers has been demanding written assurances for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of their produce from the Union Government. A guarantee on MSP means that anyone who procures a farmer's produce below MSP could be looking at jail time or a penalty or both. Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, in his letter, said that some confusion has been created by a certain section as part of a conspiracy to create tensions based on falsehood but most of the farmers are happy with the Centre's new farm laws. "I belong to a farmer's family and since childhood, I have experienced the tough life of farmers. It is very satisfactory that after implementation of the law, MSP procurement has set a new record this time," Tomar wrote in the letter.

सभी किसान भाइयों और बहनों से मेरा आग्रह !

"सबका साथ सबका विकास सबका विश्वास" के मंत्र पर चलते हुए प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में हमारी सरकार ने बिना भेदभाव सभी का हित करने का प्रयास किया है। विगत 6 वर्षों का इतिहास इसका साक्षी है।#ModiWithFarmers pic.twitter.com/Ty6GchESUG — Narendra Singh Tomar (@nstomar) December 17, 2020

The Union Minister without naming the opposition claimed, "A lie is being spread in the name of MSP and Mandis. The fact is that nothing is going to change." "In the last six years, the Modi government has taken a lot of steps for farmers. Through these bills, the government has provided an additional option for farmers to sell their product anywhere they want," his letter read. The Minister in his letter further added, MSP and APMC mandis will continue and the government is ready to give written assurance in this regard. Tomar also wrote in his letter that the farm laws have been made on the lines of the Swaminathan Committee report that came during the tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh. "These days, they are working again to create tension. They even questioned our Army and their supreme sacrifice in Leh-Ladakh," the letter further read. Retweeting Tomar's post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Union Minister has expressed his feelings and has urged for a polite dialogue. I request all farmers to read it and citizen of the country to share it with others."

कृषि मंत्री @nstomar जी ने किसान भाई-बहनों को पत्र लिखकर अपनी भावनाएं प्रकट की हैं, एक विनम्र संवाद करने का प्रयास किया है। सभी अन्नदाताओं से मेरा आग्रह है कि वे इसे जरूर पढ़ें। देशवासियों से भी आग्रह है कि वे इसे ज्यादा से ज्यादा लोगों तक पहुंचाएं। https://t.co/9B4d5pyUF1

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2020

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other states have been protesting near the Delhi borders for the past three weeks, demanding that the Centre's farm laws be repealed.