NEW DELHI, 23 December 2020, (TON):  The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which is acting as coordination committee of the farmer unions on Wednesday responded to the proposal sent by the Prime Minister Modi’s government, saying they are ready to talk but the government must stop defaming their protest movement. The officials said that several rounds of talks have been held with the representatives of the farmers' organisations and they will soon come to an amicable solution about the farmers' issues.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, said that farmers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are in favour of the new Union farm laws. However, farmers from certain regions have fallen into the trap of the opposition parties which are instigating them. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is willing to change the provisions in the farm laws that may harm the farmers, but tell me how this will affect the farmers."

The Union Minister said that he is well aware of how the bidding for farmers' produce takes place in the mandis run by the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) and how they are forced to sell their crops at low prices.

He said the Central government has given them an option in the new farm laws to help them sell their crops at a higher price so that the competition increases by which the working of the APMCs will also improve. He informed that the provisions in the farm laws related to contract farming are also in the interests of farmers and its benefits will be seen in the coming days.

The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has announced that they would continue with the protests on Thursday, 24 December 2020, and not compromise until government accepts their demands.