NEW DELHI/BATHINDA: In a major concession to farmers’ unions opposing the new Agri laws, the Centre on Wednesday said it was ready to suspend implementation of the legislations for up to one and a half years if the farm representatives agreed to form a committee to discuss all issues and objections threadbare and arrive at a solution.
The government’s offer was immediately read as a big climbdown or U-turn as it had vehemently opposed the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the laws. But agriculture minister Narendra Tomar’s remarks could also reflect thinking in Centre that the laws were, in any case, stayed by the apex court and the opportunity could be used to seek a breakthrough in the deadlock.
While Tomar said the Centre could submit an affidavit to this effect in the court to assure the unions it would not backtrack, the farmers said they would discuss the offer on Thursday and return for talks with the government on Friday noon even as they said the repeal of laws remained their main objective and demand.
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