Amid the intensifying farmer's protest against central government's agricultural laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly defended the new farm laws and asserted that the new pieces of legislation would unshackle Indian agriculture and enable ‘Brand India’ to establish itself in the global agricultural markets.
"We have given the best alternatives to farmers to sell their crops through these laws. What is wrong if farmers have so many options (to sell their produce)? Some are spreading the canard that the existing mandis will be closed", said PM Modi.
"Have you heard of closure of any mandi in a any place?”, he asked.
He also highlighted that the Centre has purchased record quantity of grain after these laws came into force.
“Some parties pushing their political agenda by opposing the new farm laws. Some people are spreading the lie that farmers’ lands will be taken away if they enter into contract farming agreements", Modi said while interacting virtually with farmers from seven states on the occasion of release of the third instalment of money transfers under the PM-Kisan income-support scheme.
On the other hand, farmer unions will meet today to decide the Centre’s latest offer for talks to resolve the stand-off.
“Raising a new demand (statutory MSP) and its inclusion in the talks does not look logical. Still, the government is ready to discuss all issues raised by you”, wrote agriculture ministry.
The Centre has made elaborate arrangements to reach out to farmers across the country in view of the ongoing farmers’ protest, by roping in elected representatives of the BJP to organise public gatherings where people could watch the message of the Prime Minister. Some 8.02 crore farmers had registered to listen to Modi’s address, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.
