PM Modi favors farm reforms, slams Opposition for taking U-turn
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Monday about the agricultural reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Opposition for taking a U-turn. He advocated the three farm laws, that have sparked a massive protest, saying that the government has a responsibility toward the small and marginal farmers. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader reiterated that MSP would stay.
PM Modi quoted his predecessor to drive a point home
In his speech, PM Modi referred to his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who was present in the House. "There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get highest rate of return," the BJP leader said quoting the ex-PM from Congress. He claimed those taking U-turn would agree with Dr. Singh.
'It is our intention to remove all those handicaps'
Sharad Pawar also demanded changes, said the PM
PM Modi also mentioned Sharad Pawar, the patriarch of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) who was the Agriculture Minister in Dr. Singh's government. "Sharad Pawar Ji, and those from Congress, everyone...all governments have stood for agricultural reforms. Whether they were able to do it or not, but everyone has advocated that it should be done, (sic)" the PM said in the Upper House.
After Opposition ruined business hours last week, PM Modi responded
Notably, his speech came after a tumultuous week in the Parliament. The Lok Sabha failed to transact business for several hours due to commotion over farm laws, led by the Opposition. Targeting the Opposition today, PM Modi extensively quoted former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. He also appreciated former PM HD Deve Gowda, who had also slammed the laws, for his "interest" in the issue.
'Communists had called Lal Bahadur Shastri an American agent'
The PM said bringing reforms is essential as "we can't be static after all." He said former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri was treated the same way by communists, as he is being treated today. They called him an American agent, he said, "But because of the reforms we didn't need PL-480 wheat of US." Now is the ripe time for farm reforms, he underlined.
He praised Sikhs for their sacrifices
Referring to the agitation, driven primarily by farmers from Punjab and Haryana, PM Modi said some are trying to mislead Sikhs and this won't benefit India. "This country is proud of every Sikh. What have they not done for this country? Whatever respect we give them will always be less. I've been fortunate to spend crucial years of my life in Punjab," he said.
He claimed a new kind of FDI was threatening India
Just as the nation is leaping forward, a new "FDI" has emerged, PM Modi added. "We need Foreign Direct Investment but the new FDI is 'Foreign Destructive Ideology,' we have to protect ourselves from it," he asserted. PM Modi also coined a new term "Andolan Jivi," for those who can be spotted in every agitation, be it of students, lawyers, or laborers.
