New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stoutly defended farm sector reform bills, asserting that they will act as a 'protection shield' for farmers and accused those opposing the measures of standing with middlemen and 'deceiving' and 'lying' to peasants.
He said that with the introduction of the three historic ordinances for the farming sector, farmers have been given new independence in agriculture.
PM Modi said that the farmers will now have more options and opportunities to sell their produce while congratulating them on the passage of the Bills.
With opposition parties dubbing three bills, passed by Lok Sabha and now to be tabled in Rajya Sabha, as 'anti-farmers' and the BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal quitting his government to protest them, Modi refuted their criticism, saying these laws will unshackle farmers by allowing them to sell their produce anywhere by negotiating a better price.
He asserted that the government purchase of farm produce will remain, adding that the mechanism of minimum support price will continue in the same way it always has.
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PM Modi was addressing the nation during the inauguration of new rail lines and electrification projects in Bihar through video-conferencing on Friday and dedicated Kosi Rail Mega Bridge to the nation.
Modi said that his government is committed to providing farmers appropriate price through the MSP, and asserted that no government has done as much for the farming community as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in its six years in power since 2014.
Farmers of the country are aware and can see who is standing with middlemen, who 'pocketed' profits meant for them, and opposing new opportunities being provided for them through these measures, he said.
The prime minister said that the Congress had also promised in its manifesto what his government has now done through these bills, as he attacked the opposition party for fanning protests against these proposed legislations.
Without naming it, he launched a blistering attack on the Congress, saying those who remained in power for decades are trying to 'mislead' farmers and 'lying'" to them on the agriculture bills.
He further stated that these bills are aimed at transforming the farm sector and help raise farmers' income.
On June 5, the President had promulgated Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance Act, 2020.
(with Agency input)
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