Patiala, Dec 4 (IANS): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur on Wednesday welcomed the statement of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on farmers suggesting that the government should hold dialogue with them.

In a statement, Kaur maintained that it was important to hold discussions with the farmers to reach a solution to their problems.

She reiterated her party's commitment towards the welfare of farmers, pointing out that the statement came from no less a person than the Vice President of the country.

The former Union MoS urged Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to initiate a dialogue with the farmers and find a way out.

Preneet Kaur maintained that the BJP government at the Centre has accorded top priority to the agriculture sector.

She said this was the reason that the agriculture sector had seen the highest growth among all sectors during the last quarter.

Reacting to the farmers' protest, Vice-President Dhankhar, addressing Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said: "Agriculture Minister Sir, every moment is critical for you. I urge you, and as the person holding the second-highest constitutional position in India, I request you to please tell me…

"...and why has it not been fulfilled? What are we doing to fulfill the promise? There was an agitation last year, and there is one this year as well, and time is passing, but we are doing nothing," he said.

Jagdeep Dhankhar was speaking at the Centenary Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research -- Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), in Mumbai on Tuesday amid the presence of Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Vice President asked Shivraj Singh Chouhan if any promise had been made to farmers, and said the dialogue with farmers should happen immediately.

"Honourable Agriculture Minister, did the previous Agriculture Ministers make any written promises? If so, what happened to them?" Vice President Dhankhar added.