Indian farmers reject government’s offer to suspend new laws

Coalition of farmers’ unions says they will settle for nothing less than a complete repeal of the farm laws.

Farming leaders have rejected an offer from the Indian government to suspend contentious agricultural laws for 18 months and set up a committee to look into their concerns about the legislation that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, or United Farmers’ Front, a coalition of farmers’ unions, said in a statement on Thursday that they rejected the government proposal and will settle for nothing less than a complete repeal of the laws.

“As a farmer myself and a union leader, in view of the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farm unions and the public in general, I am ready to sacrifice any position offered or given to me so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country,” Mann said in a statement.