PM assures farmers may continue to sell produce as they wish: ‘Laws not binding on farmers’

Even as the protests against the laws continue for nearly three months, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has invited resumption of dialogues, while assuring that the laws are “not binding on the farmers who are still free to sell their produce anywhere”.

Speaking in the Parliament, the PM said, “As long as our small farmers don’t get empowered, full freedom will not be achieved. After the enactment of the new laws, neither the mandis have closed nor MSP has stopped, but more crops have been bought under MSP.”

The farmers have been protesting against the recently passed farm laws. Thousands of farmer leaders and farmers have been stationed near Delhi borders for three months, demanding repealing of the laws.

Eleven rounds of talks have also been held between the central government and representatives of the farmers. While the farmer refused to move without repealing of the laws, the government is not ready to to do so. However, the government has offered to put a stay on the laws, and discuss, clause-by-clause, the laws to make any amendments required.