“The agricultural reforms that have been carried out are exactly what farmers’ bodies demanded and even the opposition has been calling for them over the years,” the prime minister said at a rally in Gujarat’s Kutch after laying the first stone of several key projects.
Hitting opposition parties for “cheating” farmers, the prime minister said that those in opposition failed to carry out agricultural reforms during his rule and are now trying to cheat farmers.
The prime minister further said that a conspiracy is underway in Delhi to confuse farmers, even as he sought to allay their fears with an example.
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“They are told that after the new agricultural reforms, their lands will be occupied by others. Tell me, if a dairy has a contract to collect milk from you, they also take away your cattle,” Modi asked.
The Prime Minister stated that his government is committed to the well-being of farmers and said the Center will continue to assure them that they will address any and all concerns about the new laws.
Modi’s remarks come amid frenzied government efforts to engage with farmers, demanding the repeal of all three laws.
On Monday, the Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar He had said that the government is engaging with peasant leaders to decide the next date for the talks.
Tomar had added that the government was ready to discuss clause-by-clause legislation once the agitating farmers responded to a series of government-proposed amendments. Farmers had rejected the proposals.
Up to five rounds of talks between farmers and the government have already taken place, but the stalemate over contentious legislation continues.
Meanwhile, the protest against the laws has entered its third consecutive week, with peasant leaders observing a one-day hunger strike on Monday.
Industry body Assocham on Tuesday urged the Center and farmers’ organizations to resolve the stalemate over new laws, saying the protests are dealing a severe blow to the economies of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
“A daily loss of Rs 3,000-3,500 crore is causing transport and value chain disruption in the region’s economies due to protests,” according to a rough estimate by the chamber.
Enacted in September, the three agricultural laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agricultural sector that will eliminate middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
However, protesting farmers have expressed fear that the new laws would pave the way to remove the safety buffer from Support minimum price and destroy the mandis, leaving them at the mercy of the big corporations.
(With inputs from agencies)
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