Farmers Movement Archive

Talks a chance to explain laws: Goyal

NEW DELHI: Union minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said he looks at the ongoing discussions with farmer unions as less of a problem and more of an opportunity to explain the benefits of the new laws to them and the country. Addressing the 74th foundation day of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Goyal said there are always different points of view to look at things as he cited the example of the discussions with farmers unions. “There are always different points of view to look at things. No good work is easy and difficulties always come. Problems arise in everything, but it all depends on how we see things and how we deal with them. It is all about the point of view,” he said. Goyal, as food and consumer affairs minister, along with Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been holding talks with the farmers groups protesting against the recently enacted farm laws. “For example, when I go along with agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar for discussions with farmer unions, should I see that as a trouble or as an opportunity that I am getting? I see that as an opportunity at those discussions to explain to farmers that the new laws are in their interest and in the interest of the country. I tell them that the entire country will benefit if farmers’ income increases and their lives, as well as the lives of their children, will get better. That is my point of view to look at things,” the minister said. The next round of meeting with the farmer unions is scheduled on Friday. Thousands of farmers are protesting for more than 40 days at the Delhi borders, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws enacted in September 2020. The Supreme Court is also scheduled to hear on January 11 a batch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as also the ones raising issues related to the ongoing farmers’ protest at Delhi borders.

The Times of India

2021-01-07

India