Opposition using tricks to oppose historic agri reforms, farmers being misled: PM Modi in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited Varanasi to inaugurate six-laning of the 73-km Varanasi-Prayagraj National Highway and also spoke about the ongoing farmers' protest in Delhi and its borders.

Speaking at the event, Modi said Opposition is "using tricks to oppose historic agriculture reforms laws and farmers are being misled".

"The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. We will see and experience benefits of these new laws in the coming days. Efforts are on to double farmers' incomes, new options being offered to them to sell their crops," said Modi.

"There's new trend now, earlier decisions of govt were opposed, now rumours have become basis for opposition. Propaganda is spread that although decision is fine, it can lead to other consequences, about things that haven't happened or will never happen. Same is with farm laws," Modi added.

The Prime Minister cited an example of how the farmers are benefiting from the government's efforts and modern infrastructure. He said black rice was introduced 2 years ago in Chandauli to increase the income of the farmers. Last year, a farmer committee was formed and around 400 farmers were given this rice to grow in the Kharif season. While normal rice sells for ₹35-40 a kg, this black rice was sold for up to ₹300 a kg. For the first time, this rice has been exported to Australia, that too at the rate of around Rs. 800 per kg.

The Prime Minister said India's agricultural products are famous all over the world. He asked why farmers shouldn't have access to this big market and higher prices. He said new agricultural reforms have given farmers new options and new legal protection and at the same time the old system also continues if someone chooses to stay with that. He said earlier, transactions outside the mandi were illegal but now the small farmer can take legal action on the transactions outside the mandi also.

The Prime Minister said Governments make policies, laws and regulations. Criticizing the opposition, he said earlier the decisions of the government were opposed but now the criticism is based on mere apprehensions. He said confusion is spread in society about what has not happened yet, which will never happen. He said these are the same people who have consistently tricked the farmers for decades.

Continuing on the duplicity of the past, the Prime Minister said MSP was declared, but a very meager MSP purchase used to take place. This deception went on for years. Large loan waiver packages were announced in the name of farmers, but they did not reach the small and marginal farmers. He added big schemes were announced in the name of farmers but earlier regimes themselves believed that out of 1 rupee, only 15 paisa reached the farmer, which is deceit in the name of schemes.

Modi said when history has been full of deception, then two things are natural. The first is that there is decades of history behind the farmers being apprehensive about the promises of governments. Secondly, it has become a compulsion for those who break the promises, to spread the lie that what used to take place before, is still going to happen. He said when you see the track record of this government, the truth will come out automatically. He said the Government delivered on the promise of stopping the black marketing of urea and giving enough urea to the farmers. He said the Government delivered on the promise of fixing MSP at 1.5 times the cost in line with the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission. This promise was not only fulfilled on paper, but has reached the bank account of the farmers.

The Prime Minister said in the five years before 2014, pulses of around ₹6.5 crores were procured from the farmer. But in the subsequent 5 years, pulses worth about ₹49000 crore were procured, that is, about 75 times increase. In the 5 years prior to 2014, paddy worth ₹2 lakh crores were purchased. But in the subsequent 5 years, we have passed 5 lakh crore rupees as MSP of paddy to the farmers. That is, almost two and a half times more money has reached the farmer. He added in the 5 years before 2014, farmers got around Rs. 1.5 lakh crore on the purchase of wheat. In the subsequent 5 years, wheat farmers have got ₹3 lakh crores i.e. around 2 times. He asked why the Government would spend so much if the mandis and the MSP were to be dismantled. He stressed that the government is spending crores of rupees to modernize the mandis.

Criticizing the opposition, the Prime Minister said, these are the people who used to raise questions about PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, spreading the rumour that this money is being given in view of the elections and after the election the same money will have to be given back with interest. He added that in a state, where the opposition government is there, due to its political interest, farmers are not allowed to take advantage of this scheme. He said assistance is being provided directly to the bank accounts of more than 10 crore farmer families of the country. So far, about ₹1 lakh crore have reached the farmers.

The Prime Minister said decades of deceit make farmers apprehensive but now there is no deceit, work is being done with intentions as pure as Gangajal. He remarked that the truth of those who spread illusions on the basis of mere apprehensions is being constantly exposed before the country. When farmers understand their lies, then they start spreading lies on another subject. He added the government is also constantly answering those farmer families who still have some concerns. He expressed confidence that those farmers who have some doubts on agricultural reforms today, will also take advantage of these agricultural reforms in future and increase their income.

While inaugurating the project, Prime Minister Modi said Varanasi is getting better infrastructure on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti and Dev Deepawali and this will benefit both Varanasi and Prayagraj.

"The widening of this highway has made it easier to travel between Kashi and Prayagraj. The problems faced by Kanwariyas during the Kanwar Yatra will be over with this project. Its benefits will also be available during Kumbh," he said.

"Along with beautification of Kashi in past years, we can now witness the benefit of work done on connectivity here. New highways, flyovers, widening of roads to reduce traffic jams, several such work are now underway in and around Varanasi, which has never happened since independence. Infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh has improved since Yogi Adityanath has become the Chief Minister. Today work is underway on the development of 12 airports in the state," PM Modi added.