New Delhi, Sept 19: Lauding the passage of three agriculture reform Bills in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the reform bills will help farmers and the farm sector to get rid of middlemen. He also denied the lies propagated that the benefit of MSP will not be given to the farmers by the government.

 

 

"I congratulate the farmers of the country for agrarian reform Bills that have been passed in the Lok Sabha. These will help farmers to get rid of the middlemen who take large prices of their produce while delivering it to the customers," he said while addressing an inaugural program of "Kosi Rail Mahasetu" in Bihar.

 

PM Modi said that the agricultural reform bill has been passed which has liberated our farmers from many restrictions. Wishing the farmers across the country, he said, "these reforms will give farmers more options in selling their produce and would protect the farmers from the middlemen, who take a large share of the farmers' earnings."

 

Criticizing the opposition who are spreading the lies about the bills, the Prime Minister said, "Some people who ruled this country for decades are attempting to mislead the farmers on this issue. The changes in the provisions of the agricultural market in the APMC Act were also promised in the election manifesto of the opposition parties who are opposing the reforms now."

 

Refuting the lies stating that the benefit of MSP will not be given to the farmers by the government, he assured that the government is committed to providing fair prices to farmers through MSP and Government procurement will continue as before. "The new provisions coming into force, farmers can harvest their crop and sell at his desired price in any markets of the country," he added.

 

Further, he asserted that the Chief Minister of Bihar removed the APMC Act in Bihar after it was harming the farmers. He also listed the initiatives of the government to improve the lives of the farmers such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Neem coated Urea, a network of cold storage is being built on a large scale in the country. He added that investment is also made on food processing industries and the creation of agricultural infrastructure fund.

 

The Prime Minister said, "Government is constantly working to increase the income of farmers. A nationwide campaign is also being carried out to protect the livestock from diseases." In a clear message to the farmers of the country, he urged them to be aware of those who are misleading them.

 

He added these people are beating the knack of protecting the farmers, but actually they want to keep the farmers in many bonds. They are supporting the middlemen and supporting the looters of the farmers' earnings. This is the need of the country and the demand of time. The criticism by PM Modi comes after Congress and many other opposition parties are opposing the bill, spreading lies about the bills.

 

Notably, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill have been passed in Lok Sabha yesterday. These Bills will now be tabled in the Upper House.