New Delhi, February 10: Rightly defended the legality of the contentious farm laws against which farmers have been protesting on Delhi borders since 26 November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that since 2014 the govt has initiated changes in the agriculture sector aimed at empowering the farmer. "We have tried to understand what the farmers' concerns are with clause-by-clause discussions. We understand that there is no harm in altering the laws if they can harm the farmers' business. But we are only waiting for a counter-proposal from the protesters' side," he said addressing the House.
On opposition parties raising slogans, the PM said: "The laws were brought through ordinances and after due discussions in Parliament. All the sloganeering and protests are a pre-planned strategy to prevent the truth from coming out."
"This is the first time I am hearing 'When we did not ask, why did you give us the laws?' We did so because these laws are important. Nobody had asked for reforms against child marriage and triple talaq as well, but we passed the laws because they were necessary for the development of this society", he added.
Further quoting his predecessor, Modi noted, "Manmohan Ji is here, I would read out his quote. Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of return".
The PM called the farm laws optional as it gives the farmers the option to choose where they want to sell their produce. Opposition MPs created an uproar in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began speking on farm laws. "After the laws were passed in the parliament, I want to ask the farmers, have any of their rights being taken away by these reforms", he said adding that no mandis were shut after the farm laws were passed. "The government respects the agitator. This is why our officials are having discussions with the farmers", he signed off.
.
.