In a controversial statement, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Tuesday (December 8) that “tough” reforms are “very difficult in the Indian context” as “we are too democratic”. However, he added that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Center has shown “courage” and “determination” in pushing through such tough reforms in different sectors, including agriculture.
Addressing an online event, ‘The Road to Atmanirbhar Bharat’, Kant endorsed the new agricultural laws and stated that these reforms should be implemented for the development of the country.
Responding to a question on whether India should become a world leader in manufacturing, NITI CEO Aayog said: “So tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too democratic. For the first time, the government has had the courage and determination to carry out very tough reforms in all sectors … mining, coal, labor, agriculture … these are very, very difficult reforms … A great amount of political determination and administrative will to carry out these reforms that are being carried out ”.
He added: “Agriculture must receive reforms. It is very important to understand this, that the current reforms, nobody is saying that we end the mandis, the mandis will exist, the MSP will be there. But (a) farmer has alternative options (to sell his crop). I am a big believer that the farmer must have a choice. Why should we force him to go to one place alone? We give you the opportunity to go to five other places. Someone gives you more than the MSP, why shouldn’t the farmer receive it? That is the objective of the reforms ”.
On the demand of farmers to make a law that guarantees the Minimum Support Price, Kant said he “(does) not want to comment” on the talks between farmers and the government.
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“And many more reforms still need to be done, as I mentioned, in logistics, in energy,” said NITI CEO Aayog. “But… this government has at least demonstrated its political will to make stubborn reforms. And we need to carry them out to become a major manufacturing nation. It is not easy to compete with China. It is not easy to become a manufacturing nation. It does not happen with holding seminars and webinars. It requires a very stubborn and ground-level approach, which is being tried for the first time in India. “
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