Modi offers credit of farm bills to opposition; he just wants to help the farmers

During the Kisan Kalyan event in Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi pointed out the opposition parties’ hypocrisy and lies used to misguide farmers on the three farm laws
Modi offers credit of farm bills to opposition; he just wants to help the farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a scathing attack on the opposition and political parties for “misleading” farmers on the farm laws during the ‘Kisan Kalyan’ event in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on Friday.

“Political parties should stop misleading farmers. The farm laws have been implemented in the last 6-7 months. However, all of a sudden, these parties are trying to plough their political ground by lying to farmers,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister told the gathering that they must remember what these political parties did for farmers when they were in power. “The country needs to remember what those [who’ve started this movement in the name of farmers] did back when they had a chance to run the government or become part of the government,” Modi said, adding that he will expose all lies and deeds done by those misguiding farmers.

PM Modi pointed out the Opposition’s lies in three main points — the Swaminathan Report, Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the mandi system.

Modi said that the previous central governments were sitting for eight years on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. “The Swaminathan Commission report is the biggest proof of how merciless these people [the Opposition] are. For eight years, they were sitting on the report recommendations. Farmers used to protest and hold demonstrations but these people did nothing at all. They decided that to make sure their government did not have to spend too much on farmers,” Modi said, adding that they [opposition] used farmers for their political gains.

When it came to MSP, Modi made it clear that it is here to stay and it will not be removed. “If we wanted to remove MSP, then why would we implement the Swaminathan Commission report in the first place? We declared the MSP before sowing season every year because our government is serious about it. This makes it easier for farmers,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi added that lies are being spread about the mandi system. “In the new farm laws, we have given farmers the freedom to sell their crops wherever they want to sell. However, in the last 70 years, the governments have been telling farmers that they can sell their produce on a particular mandi and cannot sell it anywhere else,” he said, adding that the new farm laws are more flexible. If the farmers find it profitable, then he can continue selling his crops at mandis or outside; the decision is up to the farmer, says Modi.

The Prime Minister told the gathering that the farm laws were not introduced overnight. “The previous central governments and state governments have been having detailed discussions on these reforms in the last 20-30 years,” he added.

“In the last six years, our government took important steps keeping in mind about the farmers’ demands. Before that, there were only talks and no work was done. Previous governments and political parties made big promises but could not deliver,” Modi said. He also took a sly dig at the opposition saying, “I request all political parties with folded hands, please keep all the credit. I'm giving credit to all your old election manifestos. I want to ease the life of farmers,” Modi said.

He added that the government is always prepared for talks with the farmers. However, the Prime Minister made no mention of repealing the three farm laws. He also informed the gathering that the new fertiliser plants are being set up across the country, which will help create employment and will provide urea to farmers in the country. “In the next few years, organic fertiliser plants will start functioning in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana,” Modi said.

While concluding his speech, the Prime Minister said that he would once again address farmers on these issues on December 25. “On the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I will once again address the farmers of our country on these issues,” Modi said.

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