Try new farm laws for a year: ex-Karnataka CM urges farmers

Bengaluru : H. D. Kumaraswamy Saturday echoed Union Minister Rajnath Singh's appeal to the agitating farmers to " experiment" the laws for a year or two.

"(Rajnath Singh) had appealed to farmers to allow an 'experimental' implementation of the new farm legislations. He has also assured farmers of withdrawing the legislations," Kumaraswamy added while appealing the farmers to have an open mind.

Taking to Twitter, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka said the protest began attracting the attention of the entire world and created an impression of some troubles brewing in India.

Janata Dal (S) second-in-command requested the Centre to protect 'country's international reputation' by solving the issue at the earliest.

"It is my sincere wish that the reputation earned by India at the international level and its image should not be dented by the new farm legislations as well as the protests against them," he said in a series of tweets.He sought a decisive meeting to end the farmers' struggle.

"This is inevitable in the interest of protecting the country's dignity," he added.

The JD(S) leader also reminded the protesting farmers of views that Indian agriculture was caught in a vicious circle. "It is very much necessary on our part to be ready for any experiment if it can bring about welfare of the farm sector by rescuing it from the vicious circle," he said.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other states have been protesting along Delhi's border against new farm laws passed by the union government in September, which they fear will dismantle the minimum support price system and leave them at the mercy of big companies.

Several rounds of talks between farm leaders and the government remain inconclusive.