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MUMBAI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that farmers’ protests against three laws put forward by his government were politically motivated, while touting the success of an agricultural plan launched last year.
Thousands of farmers from various Indian states have camped on the outskirts of New Delhi for more than a month, blocking roads to demand that the Modi government repeal agricultural laws passed in September that they say threaten their livelihoods.
But Modi’s virtual public speech on Friday did not focus on the disputed laws.
Instead, he spoke by videoconference with seven farmers from different states, asking how they had benefited from ‘PM Kisan’, a cash transfer scheme launched by his government in February 2019, under which farmers get support for farmers. minimum income.
Farmers Modi spoke with on Friday praised his plan, but none were among the thousands who have been protesting.
Modi repeatedly said that “some people” were spreading lies and rumors about farmers’ problems, and dismissed the protests as motivated by political opponents.
“All these people who are protesting in support of the farmers, what did they do when they were in power?” he said, referring to opposition politicians. “Those with political motives … are firing the gun from the shoulders of the farmers.”
Modi also said he was open to talks with farmers. “I ask even those who oppose me today that my government is ready to speak to them about agricultural issues … I urge our farmers not to deceive them.”
At least six rounds of talks between the Modi government and agricultural leaders about the new laws have failed.
Modi also used his leadership to attack his political rivals, mainly the fierce leader of the eastern state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, ahead of the state’s legislative assembly elections in 2021. Modi alleged that the Banerjee government was not allowing farmers in your state to benefit from Modi’s federal plan.
For an explanation of India’s multi-billion dollar food program that is at the center of the ongoing protests, click here https://in.reuters.com/article/india-farms-protests-explainer/explainer-indias -multi-billion-dollar-food-program-is-at-the-heart-of-farmers-protests-idINKBN28E1VK or here
(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in MUMBAI; Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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