NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday he criticized the opposition for misleading farmers about the new farm laws and said the government is willing to hold talks with protesters as long as the discussion is based on issues, facts and logic.
“Farmers had some apprehensions about the new laws, but people with political agenda got in the middle and introduced new unrelated lawsuits, “said the prime minister after releasing Rs 18,000 crore to more than 9 crore farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme.
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
“You would have seen that when the turmoil started, their demand was about the MSP guarantee. They had genuine problems because they were farmers. But then those with political ideology took control,” Modi said.
“The MSP, etc. was left aside and now what is happening. They are demanding the release from jail of those accused of violence … They want toll-free roads. Why have they gone from the problems of the farmers to the new demands, “he said.
“Despite that, farmers across the country have enthusiastically embraced the agricultural reforms. I assure you I will not disappoint you,” Modi said.
Although the Prime Minister did not name any particular group, he made several references that appeared to be directed at groups affiliated with the left and other opposition parties.
PM Modi said the groups that are speaking mandis and the APMC are the ones that destroyed West Bengal and Kerala.
“There are no APMC and mandis in Kerala. Those who rule Kerala for years are joining Punjab farmers to take selfies, but they do nothing for the mandi system in their own state. They have time to fool Punjab farmers. If this is so good, why? Don’t they fight to implement it in Kerala? They have no facts, they raise false accusations and spread misinformation and create fear among farmers and mislead them. Sometimes farmers are misled by them. ” Prime Minister Modi said.
Modi also lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal while claiming that they had destroyed the state and were engaging in politics by preventing more than 70 lakhs of state farmers from reaping the benefits of the Center’s flagship PM-KISAN scheme, under which Rs 6,000 are provided each year.
The Prime Minister wondered if there was agitation against the new agricultural laws, there were no protests against West Bengal’s decision not to implement the PM-Kisan scheme.
Modi said that more than 23 lakh farmers in West Bengal have submitted online applications to take advantage of this scheme, but the state government has stopped the verification process for so long.
“Why there were no protests to secure PM-Kisan’s money,” he said.
“If you listen to Mamta Ji’s speech from 15 years ago, you will know how much this ideology has ruined Bengal,” he said.
Modi said everyone knows how the state has been ruined by the political ideology of those who ruled there for decades.
( With inputs from agencies)
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