Defending farm reform laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Opposition parties for misleading the farmers saying those who have a long history of doing wrongs with the people are now deliberately misleading the farmers though “our intention is pious like the sacred water of the Ganga”.
Without naming any party or referring to the ongoing agitation of the farmers of Punjab, he said unlike our predecessors we believe in fulfilling our promises.
Addressing a public meeting at Khazuri on the outskirts of Varanasi, his Parliamentary constituency here, on Monday after inaugurating six-lane widening project of about 73-km-long route between Raja Talab and Handia on Varanasi-Prayagraj route constructed with a cost of Rs 2,447 crore, he said his Government has given alternatives and options to farmers through farm laws whereas earlier they were not allowed to make any deals outside the mandis (markets).
“It is a truth that through our reforms we have not only given strength to the farmers but also taken steps for making mandis more modern,” he said.
The PM also criticised those who are misleading the farmers on the issues of MSP.
“On the MSP the Opposition was misguiding the farmers whereas his Government has tried to give strength to all the farmers including small and marginal ones so that they can not only increase their crop production but also income. We have implemented the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission which has suggested increasing earnings to the farmers by one hand half times their total cost of production,” he said.
Defending his Government on MSP issue, Modi said prior to 2014, the previous Government had purchased pulses only worth Rs 650 crore during the five years while his Government had purchased pulses worth Rs 49,000 crore which is 75 times more.
“Similarly, they (previous Governments) had purchased paddy worth Rs 2 lakh crore while our Government has purchased paddy worth Rs 5 lakh crore which is 2.5 times more. While they purchased wheat worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore, it doubled in our tenure to Rs 3 lakh crore,” he said questioning the farmers that if they wanted to abolish the MSP system why they had supported the farmers in such a big way.
In his marathon address, Modi was seen defending the policies of his Government. Highlighting the various schemes launched by the Government in the recent time, he said when his Government had launched the scheme of providing Rs 2,000 per month to about 10 crore farmers of the country, many had tried to mislead the farmers terming the same as just an election gimmick but the scheme continued till date and three installment of the benefits had already paid directly to the bank accounts of the farmers.
“Many State Governments had refused to implement the same for their petty political gains,” he said hinting at the Punjab Government and added that whenever his party would come to power there, the Government would provide the benefits of the schemes to the farmers of that State also.
The PM praised the remarkable achievements being made by the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, terming the UP as ‘Express State’ as work on five mega projects covering all the regions are going on in full swing.
“In 2014, there were only two effective operating airports in the State but today the number has increased to almost a dozen including international airports at Kushinagar and Jewar (Noida),” he said, highlighting how through various infrastructure schemes, huge number of employment jobs are being created in the state even during coronavirus pandemic period.
Highlighting various schemes of his Government launched in the field of rural development, he said today the farmers of the regions are getting facilities of better storage in perishable cargos and due to this now, they have not only exported their mangoes to London and Middle East but also the paddy growers of Chandauli are getting handsome income of their black rice variety.
“Just two years ago in an experiment 400 farmers of Chandauli had asked to produce kala namak variety of rice and now the general rice which is being sold at Rs 35-40 per kg, this rice was exported recently at the rate of Rs 850 per kg,” he said, adding that encouraged by this many more farmers are going to start harvesting of this variety of rice now.
Earlier, Yogi welcomed the PM while Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Bhadohi MP Ramesh Chand Bind and Sewapuri MLA Neel Ratan Patel, among others were also present.
Tuesday, 01 December 2020 | Ramesh K Singh | Varanasi
