Protesting farmer unions ready for talks only if farm laws are repealed

Protesting farmer unions asked govt to come up with a fresh proposal as the existing offer to put the three farm laws on hold for 12-18 months is not acceptable to them

Protesting farmer unions Saturday said they are ready to resume talks with the government, but asked it to come up with a fresh proposal as the existing offer to put the three farm laws on hold for 12-18 months is not acceptable to them.

The unions, however, made it clear that they would not settle for anything less than the repeal of the three contentious laws.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border here, Samyukta Kisan Morcha's senior leader Darshan Pal said the ball is now in the government's court.

"We are ready to talk. The ball is in the government's court. We clearly told them that their last proposal (of suspending the farm laws for 12-18 months) was not acceptable to us. Now, they should come up with a new proposal," he told reporters.

Talking about the Saturday's 'chakka jam', the farmer leader claimed it got huge nationwide support which once again "proved" that farmers across the country are united against these farm laws.