Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday condemned Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar’s statement over talks with agitating farmers, saying it showed the face of a dispensation that is “arrogant” and “power-drunk”.

Tomar had on Tuesday told reporters in Gwalior that the government is ready to talk with the agitating farmers on options other than the repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws. This statement reflects the face of an “arrogant” and a “power-drunk” government, which rejects the demands of farmers agitating for months for the rollback of the farm laws, Surjewala told reporters after appearing as a counsel in connection with the bail plea of a farmer leader, Dr Dalbir Singh.