New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the government and parliament have great respect for farmers who are voicing their views on the three farm bills. He said that neither any agriculture ‘mandi’ (market) has shut down after the three laws were enacted nor has the minimum support price (MSP) stopped. Rather the MSP has only increased which no one can deny, he added.
“After the laws relating to agriculture were passed by parliament, no ‘mandi’ has shut. Likewise, MSP has remained. Procurement on MSP has remained. These facts can’t be ignored,” he said.
Modi further added that those who want to continue with the old agriculture marketing system can continue doing so. The prime minister also said the government has offered to discuss clause by clause the three farm laws, and if there are any shortcomings, it was ready to make changes.
Opposition leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a walk out as Modi explained the government’s stand on the three farm laws.
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Replying in Lok Sabha to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the president’s address to the joint sitting of parliament, Modi staunchly defended the three contentious farms laws and attacked the Opposition for “misleading” farmers, saying those who are disrupting the House are doing so as per a “well-planned strategy” as they are unable to digest that people can see the truth.
“Through their games, the trust of the people can never be won,” he said, amidst protests by the Opposition members.
The prime minister said the NDA government has tried everything to bring changes in the country and asserted that “if the intention is good, then the results will also be good”.
For over two months, farmers in India have been protesting at the Delhi borders against the agriculture laws, which, they allege, are anti-farmer and pro-corporate. Following the January 26 violence during the tractor parade, the government resorted to stringent measures against the farmers, by barricading the borders with nails, barbed wires and concrete boulders. Over the last few weeks, the protests have also garnered international attention on social media.
(With inputs from PTI)