The Central government is trying to mislead people over a statement given by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on the new farm laws, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said on Friday evening. The former Union Agriculture Minister didn't talk about the Centre's (farm) laws. He was talking about Maharsthra farm laws, Malik added.
This comes after the Centre on Friday welcomed Pawar's reported views on making amendments to farm laws.
"One of the country's top leaders Mr Sharad Pawar has said in a statement that all laws need not be changed. The clauses that seem problematic must be considered and changed. I welcome this statement of the former agriculture minister," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar Tomar told news agency ANI.
"I'd like to tell him that the Central government agrees with him. We have discussed this with the farmer union eleven times. The government of India is willing to reconsider with an open mind the issues that seem problematic," Tomar added.
Earlier on Thursday, Pawar said that he had held discussions with Maharashtra Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat over matters related to the state's farm laws.
"As the Centre has cleared the law, now the state, before passing these laws, should discuss the contentious points and take a decision. I don't think it will come up in a two-day session of the Assembly. If it does, then it should be discussed. There is a group of ministers that is working on this. If they come up with relevant changes in this law, then there is no need to bring a resolution against the farm laws," Pawar had reportedly said.
