In a massive outreach to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a video conference event titled ‘Kisan Kalyan’ to defend the new farm laws. The PM lashed out at the Opposition for having misled farmers regarding the farm laws, adding that these laws were not framed overnight, instead were debated extensively by every government for over twenty years. He added that the talks of MSP being removed is the biggest lie and that his government would work closely with farmers to make sure that it is increased. The PM also said that if MSP would not be implemented, what is the necessity for the government to implement the Swaminathan Report.
“These parties are pained today. They are asking themselves, what we couldn’t do, how could Modi do? Why should he get credit? My reply to them is – you keep the credit. Even I will give credit to your own manifestos. I don’t want credit. I want farmers’ lives to improve. Stop misleading farmers. These laws were not brought in overnight. In the past 22 years, every government, state has discussed these in detail. Farmer groups, agricultural experts, economists, scientists and progressive farmers have called for reforms. Parties opposing these laws today promised these reforms in their manifestos,” PM Modi said, adding that he would like all those farmers who are being misled and instigated to remain cautious.
Thousands of farmers from Haryana and Punjab have been camping at Delhi borders, braving the bone-chilling winter protesting against the Centre’s contentious farm laws. Despite having held several talks, no consensus between the agitating farm union leaders and the Centre could be reached.
