Farm Laws: Leaders of 30 farmer unions walk out from meeting with Agriculture Secretary

Delhi:Leaders of 30 farmer unions walked out of the meeting with Agriculture Secretary in protest against the absence of Union minister for agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar.

The Centre had called the meeting and the farmers' groups-which have been on warpath for months over the new farm bills-had finally decided yesterday at a meeting in Chandigarh to enter discussions with the Centre

The group have been demanding that the new laws be scrapped which is alos backed by the opposition parties, including the Congress.

The meeting was attended by the agriculture secretary, but the farmers demanded the presence of the minister.

Upset over his absence, the farmers started raising slogans inside the ministry and tore up copies of the contentious farm laws. They also said their agitation against the new laws will continue.

"We weren't satisfied with discussions. so we walked out, we want these black laws to be scrapped," said a Farmer's Union leader.

"Secretary said he'll communicate our demands further," added the leader

"We walked out as no minister came for meeting. We want these laws to be taken back," reacted another.

Under the new laws, the farmers are allowed to sell produce anywhere in the country and deal directly with big corporates - a situation that the farmers have found alarming.

Most feel they would be left at the mercy of the corporates and with the phasing out of agricultural wholesale APMC markets, will not get even the Minimum Support Price for their produce.

The Centre, which counts the laws among is big ticket farm sector reforms, says they would free the farmers from the clutches of the middlemen and usher in new farming technology.

(with inputs from ANI and NDTV)