December 14, 2020 1:33:10 pm
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. (Archive)
Even as thousands of farmers continue to protest outside the capital, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the Center was open to discussion on agricultural laws and that there was no possibility of taking “retrograde” measures against the agricultural sector. Singh also said that recent farm laws, which farmers want removed, were adopted with farmers’ best interests in mind.
Addressing the 93rd annual general meeting of the FICCI, Singh said: “Agriculture has been a sector that has been able to avoid the adverse effects of the pandemic and, in fact, it has turned out to be the best. Our products and acquisitions have been abundant and our warehouses are full. “
“This is not about taking retrograde measures against our agricultural sector ever. However, we are always ready to listen to our fellow farmers, remove their misgivings and offer them guarantees that we can provide. Our government is always open to discussion and dialogue, ”said Singh, considered a moderate and pro-farmer leader in the ruling BJP.
Singh’s comments come as the farmers ‘protest entered on the 19th and the heads of 32 farmers’ unions observed a hunger strike to intensify their agitation. Despite several rounds of talks with the government, farmers have said the agitation will continue until the new laws are repealed, saying their demand is “non-negotiable.”
Farmers have expressed fear that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them “at the mercy” of large corporations. The government has argued that the new laws would provide better opportunities for farmers.
At the event, Rajnath Singh also praised the “exemplary courage” shown by the armed forces against China, with the two countries now caught in a border clash in eastern Ladakh for the past six months.
“As the world battled coronavirus, the Indian armed forces bravely defended our borders. There is a large accumulation of Armed Forces in LAC in Ladakh. In these trying times, our forces have shown exemplary courage and remarkable strength. They fought the PLA with the greatest courage and forced them back. The next generations of this nation will be proud of what our forces have accomplished this year. Whenever there is a situation in LAC, the most obvious result is a comparison between the military strength of India and China, ”he said.
Attacking Pakistan for sponsoring cross-border terrorism, Singh said: “The unprovoked aggression on our Himalayan borders is a reminder of how the world is changing, how existing agreements are being challenged, how power is asserted not only in the Himalayas. but throughout the Indo-Pacific. We have been victims of cross-border terrorism, but we have fought alone against the scourge, even when there was no one to support us, but then they understood that we were right that Pakistan was the source of terrorism. “
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