PM Modi Says, Still Ready To Suspend Farm Laws for 18 months

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said that his government's proposal to pause the implementation of the contingent agriculture farm laws for 18 months is still open.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said that his government's proposal to pause the implementation of the contingent agriculture farm laws for 18 months is still open.

The proposal was represented in the starting of this month after nine rounds of talks between government and farmers leaders failed to provide a breakthrough and was rejected by farmer leaders who are insisting on the scrapping of all three farm laws. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that "During the All-Party meet PM Narendra Modi assured that GoI (Government of India) is approaching the farmers' issue with an open mind. The PM said GoI's stand is the same as it was on January 22 - the proposal by the Agriculture Minister still stands,". He also added in his statement "He (the Prime Minister) reiterated what (Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh) Tomarji said - that he (the Agriculture Minister) is a phone call away for talks,”.

The meeting took place a day after 20 opposition parties marked their response in favor of the protesting farmers by boycotting the President's address to a joint sitting of parliament and included a meeting on the Republic Day.