New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced that the three controversial farm laws, which were introduced last year, will be repealed in the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament.
In an address to the nation early in the morning on the occasion of Gurupurab, the PM apologised that his government couldn’t convince them about the reforms.
“Today I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws. In the Parliament session that starts at the end of this month (29 November), we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws,” Modi said.
“Today, I apologise if some farmers did not understand our pure intention and what we wanted to do through the farm laws. We have decided to repeal the three farm laws,” he said.
The PM also made an appeal to protesting farmers to call off their agitation and return to their homes. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the Delhi borders against these laws for over a year.
“…such a sacred thing (the reform), absolutely pure, which is of farmers’ interest, we could not explain to some farmers despite our efforts. Agricultural economists, scientists, progressive farmers also tried their best to make them understand the importance of agricultural laws,” said Modi.
The PM said his government had brought the three laws for the welfare of the farmers, adding that it had been the demand of farmers for a long time and the laws were introduced after deliberations in Parliament.
“In every nook and corner of the country, many farmers’ organisations welcomed and supported it. Today I am very grateful to all of them,” he said.
“We worked to provide farmers with seeds at reasonable rates and facilities like micro-irrigation, 22 crore soil health cards. Such factors have contributed to increased agricultural production. However, we failed to make them understand about the benefits of the new laws and as such, we have decided to roll them back,” Modi said.
“Even though only a section of farmers were protesting, that was important for us. We continued to make them understand. Held many dialogues. We also tried our level best to understand their views. We even gave the proposal to suspend them,” he added.
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Laws brought in with ‘good intentions’
PM Modi said his government had brought these laws for the welfare of farmers and with good intentions.
“Especially for the welfare of small farmers, in the interest of the agricultural world of the country, in the interest of the country, for the bright future of the village poor, with full sincerity, with dedication towards the farmers… this law was brought with good intention,” he said.
In September last year, President Ram Nath Kovind had given his assent for the three bills passed by the Parliament: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020.
The PM said many steps were taken by the government to ensure farmers get the right amount for their hard work.
“We strengthened the rural infrastructure market. Not only did we increase the MSP but also set up record government procurement centres. Procurement by our government broke the record of the past several decades,” he added.
The PM added that his government has taken an important decision to make MSP (minimum support price) more effective and transparent.
“A committee will be constituted to take decisions on all such matters keeping in view the future. In this committee, there will be representatives of the central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural scientists, agricultural economists,” he added.
(Edited by Amit Upadhyaya)
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