Open to talks, says Centre as 12 Oppn parties visit ‘Kisan Sansad’

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 6

The Centre and the Opposition again faced off on farmers’ issues on Friday with leaders of 12 likeminded non-BJP parties demanding repeal of the three agriculture reform legislations and the government saying it was always open to talks with the protesters.

“The government engaged itself actively with the agitating farm unions to end the protests and 11 rounds of talks were held to resolve issues. However, the unions never agreed to discuss the farm laws except for demanding their repeal. The government is always open to discussion,” Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar told Parliament.

The Opposition leaders, however, insisted that the laws be annulled. After meeting farmers at ‘Kisan Sansad’ (farmers’ parliament) at Jantar Mantar, Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi said, “We are here to express our full solidarity with the farmers.” Gandhi said the Opposition wanted to discuss farmers’ and Pegasus snooping issues in Parliament, but was not being allowed.

“The PM has entered everyone’s phone through Pegasus spyware. We want a discussion, but the government is not allowing us,” said Gandhi, accompanied by leaders of Shiv Sena (Sanjay Raut), NC (Hasnain Masoodi), CPM (Elamaram Kareem), CPI (Binoy Viswam), RSP (NK Premchandran), RJD (Manoj Jha), DMK (Tiruchi Siva), NCP, SP, IUML and LJD.