Narendra Singh Tomar says informal talks on, hopeful of solution by December -end

New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said the NDA government is hopeful of resolving farmers' agitation against three new farm laws before the new year and is continuing its informal dialogue with various groups to diffuse the crisis. The Agriculture Minister's statement comes as formal talks remaining deadlocked with protesting unions refusing to accept anything less than the repeal of the Acts.

He said the Modi government is committed to addressing all genuine concerns of the farming community and it is willing to resume formal talks anytime but asserted that there was no point talking to those "shooting from peasants' shoulders".

Tomar put the blame on Opposition parties for misleading the farmers and accused them of changing their stance on the reform process and politicising the issue. In an interview, the Agriculture Minister, who is leading the negotiation with about 40 farmer unions along with Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, asserted that the newly-passed farm laws are beneficial for farmers and the government is ready to give a written assurance that the minimum support price (MSP) and mandi system will continue.

Earlier in the day, the DMK-led opposition in Tamil Nadu started a day-long hunger strike in support of farmers protesting against the three new farm laws passed by the central government.

DMK chief and Leader of Opposition, M K Stalin, party MP Kanimozhi and leaders of alliance parties participated in the protest in Chennai.

Stalin slammed Centre and state government for not paying heed to the request of farmers and said that the NDA government has been passing anti-people laws.