Bills not against agri mandis, PM tells farmers

September 21, 2020 13:55

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds forth on the two Agriculture Bills:

"Yesterday, two farm bills were passed in the Parliament. I congratulate my farmers. This change in the farming sector is the need of the present hour and our government has brought this reform for the farmers.

"This change in farming sector is the need of the present hour and our govt has brought this reform for farmer. I want to assure every farmer that the Minimum Support Price system will continue as before. These Bills will empower the farmers to freely trade their produce anywhere. I want to make it clear that these Bills is not against the agriculture mandis.

"During the Coronavirus pandemic, record purchase of wheat has been made from farmers during the Rabi season. Rs 1 lakh 13 thousand crores given to the farmers at MSP. This amount is more than 30% over last year."

Congress MPs Kodikunnil Suresh on Monday said the party will hold a meeting today to take appropriate decision to support the farmers and to plan for a nationwide strike against the agriculture Bills passed by the government in the parliament.

While talking to ANI, Suresh said the government should understand the sentiment of farmers, the demand of the farmers and should address their grievances.

"The government should call a meeting of farmers' leaders and talk to them, even farmers are barely convinced with this bill. Farmers are not believing whatever the government is saying. They are very doubtful about this bill," he said.

Two Bills -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 -- were passed from both Houses of the parliament.

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