Prime Minister Modi addressed a rally in Bihar after dedicating a railway bridge to the nation.
New Delhi:
A day after his key ally Akali Dal removed his only minister from his government over the agricultural bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “misinformation was spreading” that farmers would be defrauded.
“Misinformation is spreading that farmers will not get the right prices. They are forgetting how conscientious the country’s farmers are,” Prime Minister Modi said, addressing a rally in Bihar after dedicating a rail bridge to the nation. The Prime Minister devoted much of his speech to addressing criticism of the agrarian bills and attacking the opposition, especially Congress.
“Fake news is spreading that government agencies will not get wheat, rice, etc. from farmers. This is an outright lie, completely wrong and an attempt to mislead farmers,” he said forcefully.
“I call on all farmers across the country to beware of everyone who is raising a false alarm about agricultural problems. And that is why I say this again: beware of everyone who is trying to mislead and instigate you. All they want to do is keep you in your misery and exploit the old system. These people, who have been in power for decades and have talked so much about farmers and agricultural problems, they have done nothing. “
The government is “committed to helping farmers get prices correct through the Minimum Support Price,” the prime minister said, addressing mass protests and attacks by the opposition over three agricultural bills that were passed in Lok Sabha on Thursday. .
“Farmers are observing that some people hate the new opportunities they are getting. Farmers are observing the middlemen,” said the prime minister, calling the government’s agricultural legislation “historic” and a protection for farmers.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the cabinet over the bills, which Akali Dal says are anti-farmers. The Akali Dal, one of the ruling BJP’s longtime allies, has also said that it will review ties over agricultural measures that have sparked huge protests in Punjab by farmers, its main constituency.
“I said the government should introduce the bills after consulting with stakeholders, what is the politics on this? Farmers are stirring not only in Punjab but also in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. There is opposition in South India, “Harsimrat Kaur said today. .
BJP’s ally in Haryana, Dushyant Chautala, is also under pressure to take a position like the Akalis in Punjab.
The Agreement on Price Assurance and Agricultural Services for Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) and the Draft Law on Trade and Trade in Agricultural Products (Promotion and Facilitation) were passed yesterday in Lok Sabha and will be presented next in Rajya Sabha.
The government says the proposed laws are intended to help small and marginal farmers. The bills seek to empower farmers through written agreements for the supply of agricultural products. Farmers can sell their products at competitive prices anywhere in the country, says the government.
The bills have sparked protests because farmers fear they will no longer be paid at the minimum price of living and commission agents fear they will be affected. The opposition parties to the bills are “anti-farmers”, as the agricultural sector will be left to the fate of corporate interests. States like Punjab and Haryana are also afraid of losing revenue because they cannot collect “Mandi fees “if farmers can sell their products anywhere and not just to central purchasing agencies.
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