Farmers Movement Archive

Rajasthan: BJP bats for farm laws

JAIPUR: At a kisan chaupal held at Kalwad near here, BJP state president Satish Poonia said 68.90 lakh farmers in the state received Rs 2,000 assistance from PM Narendra Modi under the PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana (PMKNY) on Friday, the seventh instalment under this scheme. The chaupal was held across the state and presided over by BJP MPs, MLAs and district presidents. The event was held to mark the 96 birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In the midst of a farm field, farmers were shown Modi’s address on a big screen followed by an address by Poonia in which he mentioned various schemes run by the central government for farmers. “The PMKNY has been a gamechanger for farmers in which they get a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 every four months. The periodic rise in MSP has benefitted farmers,” said Poonia. This was the first major move by the opposition in the state for the three farm laws. Similarly, the deputy leader of opposition, Rajendra Singh Rathore, led the farmers meet at Sardarsahar in Churu. He elaborated Modi’s speech and spoke on the benefits of three farm laws which he claimed would double the income of famers. During the programme, Modi held interactions with farmers from different states. The only disappointment was that he didn’t interact with any farmer of the state. The party claimed that they held over 1,000 such meetings across the state. The party accused the Gehlot-government of sponsoring the ongoing farmers’ protest at Shahjahanpur-Keda border for political gains. Poonia claimed that state farmers had distanced itself from the agitation and most of those attending are either from couple of the state districts or the from outside the state. “In democracy, everyone has a right to express their views and opinions. The Centre has been offering the option to farmers to discuss the issues with them with open mind,” said Poonia.

The Times of India

2020-12-26

Jaipur