11:16 January 29
President lauds new farm laws
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday lauded the new farm laws. He stated that the newly introduced three farm laws would empower the farmers.
"My government would like to clarify that the rights and facilities that were available before the formation of the three Farm Laws have not been cut short. In fact ,with these new agricultural reforms the government has provided new facilities and rights to farmers," President Ram Nath Kovind said.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
The protesting farmers have expressed the apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.
However, the government has maintained that the new laws would bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.
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