PM Modi will address nine crore farmers today on the topic of protesting the farm laws. (Archive)
New Delhi:
The BJP spares no expense to reach out to farmers today, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address nine crore farmers and clarify the center’s position on farm laws as well as release the next batch of financial aid – Rs 18,000 crore. – of the PM-Kisan Scheme.
Party chief JP Nadda has ordered trade union ministers, parliamentarians and members of the judiciary to take part in the speech, which will coincide with the birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Letters have been sent to the presidents of the state units and to all other senior leaders. Interior Minister Amit Shah will be present at a Gaushala in Delhi, from where he will also interact with a select group of farmers.
Mr Nadda has ordered that “giant screens be put up to listen to the address (of the prime minister) … at each block development center. Additionally, district-level programs will take place one hour before the Prime Minister’s speech (which will be at noon); these will also take place in all mandi or APMC markets.
These programs will consist of BJP officials and public representatives extolling the benefits of the schemes initiated by the Modi government. Specially printed brochures will also be distributed; the content will be translated into local languages, but editing of the information written by the center will not be allowed.
The interaction is part of efforts, spanning 100 press conferences and 700 meetings, to combat a nearly month-long protest against farm laws by thousands of irate farmers and the opposition.
On Thursday morning, the head of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, lashed out at the prime minister and his government saying “there is no democracy in India”. Accusing Prime Minister Modi of crony capitalism, Gandhi said: “Whoever tries to confront him will be called a terrorist, be they farmers, workers …”
Farmers say the new laws will leave them at the mercy of companies. The center insists that it only gives them the option to sell in the markets and prices of their choice. Several rounds of talks have failed; farmers insist that the laws be removed, while the center will only modify certain sections.
On Wednesday, leaders of various farmer groups addressed a press conference in Singhu (on the Delhi-Haryana border) and urged the center to submit “concrete proposals in writing.” Earlier they also called for a boycott of the Prime Minister’s policy. Mann ki Baat Sunday speech.
The center has said it remains open to further talks, but has let farmers set the date and time. Tomar said Wednesday he was “hopeful” for more discussions.
With contributions from ANI
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