Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh who have been protesting for nearly three weeks to hold further talks to resolve their problems.
The reforms introduced by the central government in its farm laws were in the interest of farmers, Modi told those attending the Kisan Sammelan in Madhya Pradesh.
Opposition parties are spreading lies, creating fear in the minds of farmers, he added.
If farmers have problems, the Union government is ready to hold detailed discussions with them to dispel their fears, Modi said at the Sammelan through videoconferencing.
“Farmers are the priority of the Union government and we are ready to address any concerns of farmers,” the prime minister said.
“Farmers should be alert about those who are spreading false information and identify them. Farmers should identify those who have always cheated them and are doing the same now,” Modi said.
Opposition parties had instigated farmers to protest against the three farms laws that were passed recently and are using them for political benefit, the prime minister alleged.
“One big fear that is being spread is that the minimum support price (MSP) system will be stopped. How can anyone believe that MSP will be stopped? I assure farmers that MSP will not be stopped,” he said.
“Farmers should remember that it was the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that implemented the Swaminathan Commission report. If the Union government wanted to stop MSP, why would we implement it?” he asked.
“People should understand that the efforts and intent of the Union government is for the benefit of farmers. There is no place for falsehood and fear in the new laws,” the prime minister said.
Modi said that he would address the farmers again on 25 December, the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Farmers were unable to sell their crops outside mandis for 70 years and the new farm laws had given them the right to do so now, the prime minister added.
“Why should farmers not get the right to sell their produce to anyone or anywhere so that they can get the maximum prices for their produce? Why should farmers be tied to mandis even after 70 years? Why should farmers not get more money by selling their produce outside the mandis? It is the right of the farmers to decide if they want to sell their produce in mandis or outside the mandis,” Modi said.
The NDA government was working to implement irrigation projects so that every farm in the country would get water for irrigation, Modi said.
If Opposition parties really cared for the farmers, they would have not delayed 100 irrigation projects, he said.
“Opposition parties are making false promises to farmers only to get power. Loan waiver was promised to farmers in Madhya Pradesh. How many farmers benefited from it?” Modi asked at the Kisan Sammelan.
“The intention of the Union government is as pure as Ganga and Narmada. Opposition parties make false promises of loan waiver, but farmers have never benefited from it,” the prime minister added.
Catch all the Business News, Politics news,Breaking NewsEvents andLatest News Updates on Live Mint. Download TheMint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
MoreLess