PM Modi made the remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for nine road projects in Bihar, which he was attending via video conference.
The prime minister, facing opposition, said that some people are concerned that control is slipping out of their hands and are trying to fool farmers.
- News18.com
- Last update: September 21, 2020 2:19 PM IST
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the land reform bills as “historic” and said they would usher in much-needed reforms in India’s agricultural sector. The prime minister, facing opposition, said some people were concerned that control would slip away and they would try to mislead farmers on the issue of the Minimum Livelihood Price (MSP).
“After these historic changes in the agricultural sector, some people are concerned because they fear that power will slip out of their hands. So now they are trying to mislead farmers about the MSP,” he said.
The prime minister made the remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for nine road projects in Bihar, which he attended via video conference.
Addressing concerns about the functioning of the Krishi Mandis, he said that his government has made continuous efforts to improve the functioning of the Mandis. “In the last 5-6 years, concerted efforts have been made in the country to improve the offices of the agricultural mandi, to introduce computerization. Whoever says that after the new reforms, the agricultural mandi will be in danger, they are lying. to farmers, “added PM Modi.
In another veiled reference to the Congress party, Prime Minister Modi said that opponents of the bills had been “sitting for years” under the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations on MSP.
“The new change in the agricultural sector is the necessity of the 21st century and our government has brought this reform to farmers,” he added. Prime Minister Modi also assured farmers that the MSP system will not be affected and that government purchasing of their products will continue. “I assure all the farmers in the country that the MSP system will continue to work. The way they worked there before will continue,” he said.
“Laws on production and yield had previously tied farmers’ hands. People were taking advantage of farmers, so it was important to carry out these reforms,” he said.
The two controversial agricultural bills, the 2020 Agricultural Products Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers’ Agricultural Price and Services Guarantee Agreement (Empowerment and Protection), 2020, were passed. amid the chaos in Rajya Sabha on Sunday three days after they were cleared in Lok Sabha.
While the Draft Law on Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) of 2020 seeks to give farmers freedom to sell their products anywhere in the country, the Agreement for the Guarantee of Prices and Agricultural Services of Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) of 2020 establishes for a national framework on agricultural agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agricultural companies, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for agricultural services.
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