Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, on Friday, hinted that the central government could reintroduce farm laws at a later stage. The statement came only a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew three farm laws, which had sparked huge protests across the country.
Narendra Singh Tomar said these laws were introduced for the betterment of farmers. He blamed “some people” for creating a fuss and ultimately leading to the withdrawal of these laws.
“We brought the agriculture amendment laws. But some people did not like these laws, which, after 70 years after Independence, were a big reform under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," the Agriculture Minister was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Tomar said despite the scrapping of these laws, the government is not dejected.
"But the government is not disappointed... we moved a step back and we will move forward again because farmers are India's backbone," he said while speaking at a function.
He said the private investments could have increased employment opportunities and helped the GDP to grow. Tomar further said that farmers are the backbone of the country and there are huge investments in the agriculture sector.
"Farmer is the backbone of the country, if the backbone is strong then surely the country will be strong." He remarked.
Soon after the farm laws were introduced, farmers around the country hit streets, demanding its withdrawal. The protests continued for months before Narendra Modi last month finally announced that these laws would be taken back.
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Farmers were not happy with these laws because they thought it could leave them at the mercy of big corporate firms because of contract-based farming.
The government, in its note after the withdrawal, blamed a group of farmers for standing in the way of "the endeavour to improve the condition of farmers...", and said the government "tried hard to sensitise farmers on the importance of the farm laws".