Prime Minister Narendra Modi has again voiced support for his government’s divisive regulations on the agriculture sector, which has been in protest against farmers camping on the border of Delhi for almost 20 days. The government has made it clear that it will not dismantle farm regulations, which is the main demand of farmers, resulting in a deadlock and an outbreak of protests.
The agricultural reforms that have taken place are just what farmers’ bodies and even opposition parties have been calling for over the years,” said the Prime Minister today, reiterating the government’s argument that the opposition is now “inciting” and “misleading” farmers.
“The Government of India is always committed to farmers’ welfare and we will keep assuring the farmers and addressing their concerns,” he added while speaking in Gujarat’s Kutch.
PM Modi, in his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat, last month marked the government’s line, expressing support for the law three days after the farmers began their “Delhi Chalo” rally.
Since then the government has held several rounds of talks with farmers, one of which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However no settlement was in sight with farmers refusing the government’s attempt to make changes to the legislation.
The BJP reported last week that the Congress contradicted its own efforts to empower farmers and criticise the government. During the UPA government, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar supported what are now the main provisions of the Farm Laws, the party said.