NEW DELHI: The farmer unions on Saturday said they want to hold discussions with the government on the new farm laws but won’t back down from their demand that they should be completely withdrawn.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, added there is absolutely no question of closing the door on talks with the government.
The SKM was reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s remarks at an all-party meeting earlier today where he stressed that his government’s proposal to the unions still stands and it is just a “phone call away” for talks.

“Farmers have come all the way to the doorsteps of Delhi to converse with their elected government and therefore, there is no question of the farmer organisations closing the door on talks with the government,” the morcha said in a statement.

However, the morcha that they will continue to seek a total repeal of the laws as well as legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.
In a virtual address to leaders of political parters, the Prime Minister today said that the government’s offer to stay the farm laws for 12-18 months still stands.
“The Prime Minister assured that the Centre is approaching the farmers’ issue with an open mind,” parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said after the meeting.
“The Prime Minister said the Centre’s stand is same as it was on January 22, the last meeting between the protesting farmers and the Centre and proposal given by Agriculture Minister on the farm laws still stands. Modiji reiterated what Tomarji had said – that he (Narendra Singh Tomar) is a phone call away for talks,” Joshi said, quoting Modi.