Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the NDA government had created history with regard to increase in MSPs of crops. Addressing a party function held to commemorate Bharatiya Jana Sangh chief Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary, he again defended the proposed legislations and said that small farmers would benefit the most.
The government is facing protests from the opposition as well as various farmers' bodies over the passage of the three agriculture-related Bills in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Parliament has passed The Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, apart from three Bills related to labour.
"The reforms in agriculture will benefit most to small and marginal farmers. 85 out of 100 are farmers belong to this category and they are happy. For the first time, they got an option on the price of their produce. There is a tradition of selling in Mandis if a farmer wants he can sell there else outside Mandis. Farmers can sell their produce as per his choice."
The Prime Minister appealed to all BJP karyakartas to reach out to farmers on the ground and inform them using simple language about the importance and intricacies of the new farm reforms and how these will empower them. "Our ground connect will bust the lies and rumours being spread in the virtual world," the Prime Minister said.
He also attacked the opposition parties, adding that only empty slogans were given by previous governments in the name of farmers till now.
As for labour reforms, he said: "Only 30 per cent workers were so far covered under the minimum wages guarantee scheme, but now it will be extended to all workers in the unorganised sector. New laws will ensure timely salary to over 50 crore workers."
The Prime Minister said that the welfare schemes initiated by his government drew inspiration from Upadhyaya, while praising BJP workers for serving people during the coronavirus lockdown.
Speaking on the founder of Jana Sangh, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Modi said, "I was not lucky to have seen Pandit Deendayal Uppadhaya Ji in person but his thoughts, the path shown by him, and his ideology give us inspiration and energy. As a country, to make India better, Deendayal ji`s contribution will inspire generations to come. For BJP workers it is the path which he has shown that is encouraging and inspiring."
(With agency inputs)
