DNA Exclusive: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar ready to hold talks at Singhu border if farmer leaders invite him

Here are the live updates: In DNA, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar speaks exclusively with Zee News.

In an exclusive interview with Zee News, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday spoke with channel Editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, amid the farmers' protests against the agriculture laws. Thousands of farmers have been staying put at Delhi border points -- Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur and Chilla (Delhi-Noida) -- for nearly two weeks against the Centre's new farm laws.

Earlier, Tomar said some "anti-social elements" are conspiring to spoil the atmosphere of the peasants' movement under the guise of farmers and appealed the protesting farming community to be vigilant against their platform being misused. He also said the government is sensitive towards farmers and is in discussion with them and their representatives to resolve their concerns.

Farmer leaders had on Thursday insisted that their ongoing protest against the Centre's new farm laws was "apolitical", after photos of protestors at the Tikri Border went viral in which they were seen holding posters demanding the release of writers, intellectuals and rationalists, arrested under various charges, on the occasion of the Human Rights Day.

Here are the live updates:

11 December 2020

21:57 IST

On the suggestion of having a meeting with farmers on Singhu border, Tomar said, "I don't have any objection to it. I have been talking to Kisan Union leaders, if they allow, I'm ready to be present there to hold talks with them."

21:56 IST

Yes, I come from a farmer family, had I been a farmer, I wd have supported these new farms laws as they would assist small farmers to do profitable agriculture. In the whole country, during the bandh, it failed to have an extensive impact even in Punjab and Haryana, says Tomar