India's govt. invites protesting farmers to talks Tuesday
NEW DELHI (AP) — India's government has moved up talks to Dec. 1 with the leaders of farm groups protesting new agricultural laws in the country's biggest farmer protests in years that have entered their fifth day.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday he decided to advance the meeting originally planned for Dec. 3. due to the coronavirus pandemic and cold weather.
There was no immediate response from the farm groups protesting new laws that they say will lead the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and result in the agricultural sector's exploitation by corporations who will further push down prices.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government tried to placate farmers, thousands of whom have blocked highways and hunkered down on the outskirts of New Delhi by inviting them for talks.
Earlier Monday, Modi said farmers were being misled by opposition parties and that his government would address their concerns.
“The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. Reforms are being done in the interest of farmers, which will give them more options,” Modi said at a rally in his political constituency of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state.
His government says the legislation brings about necessary reform that will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment.
During the rally, Modi dismissed the concerns raised by farmers and blamed opposition parties for spreading rumors.
“The farmers are being misled on these historic agriculture reform laws by the same people who for decades have misled them,” Modi said, referencing opposition parties who have called the laws anti-farmer and corporate. “Our intentions are as holy as the water of river...