PM Modi says farm bills are historic, don’t fall for Opposition’s lies of govt not supporting farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hit out at the Opposition over the controversy surrounding the 3 farm bills taken up in Parliament and said the political parties are spreading lies on the bills and these are historic moves that will benefit the farmers.

In a televised speech, PM Modi said on Friday, “The same parties that promised the same provision during the election are now opposing these farm bills because we are implementing this.”

“Previously they promised the farmers to amend APMC provision to provide an alternate option and now they opposing the same amendments and provisions. They don't want to help farmers rather they want to help the middlemen,” said PM Modi.

He also said that the Congress and other opposition parties are talking about Minimum Support Price (MSP), which they never fulfilled during their tenure. On Thursday BJP ally SAD announced that Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has resigned over differences with the government on the farm bills.

“Farmers should be wary of these people who ruled over the country for decades and are now trying to trap the farmers with their words and conspiracies. This is a historic step to make our farmers free of the shackles. Farmers should be allowed to sell their produce wherever they want. This is what the country needs right now,” said Prime Minister Modi.

He further added, “It is NDA, which has delivered on this promise and these people are only spreading rumors that the government is not going to purchase wheat, rice and other products under the MSP rule. This is another falsehood they are spreading

Praising the farm bills as "shields for farmers, PM Modi said, "Farmers have been given new independence in agriculture. They'll now have more options and opportunities to sell their produce. I congratulate them on the passage of bills. It was necessary to bring these to protect them from middlemen. These are farmers' shields."

The Centre has introduced 3 farm bills, the Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Monday to replace ordinances promulgated earlier.

These bills seek to provide a barrier-free trade for farmers' produce outside the notified farm mandis (wholesale markets) and empower farmers to enter into farming agreements with private players prior to production for the sale of their produce