Farmers Movement Archive

Opposition fighting for middlemen, not farmers: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Attacking the opposition for its protests against the newly enacted farm laws, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed it “opposition for the sake of opposition”, saying some people are feeling troubled because the reforms will shut one more avenue for acquiring black money. Referring to the burning of a tractor at India Gate on Monday by Congres workers, he said, “These are the same people who have insulted farmers by torching farm equipment which are worshipped by farmers.” The PM, who was speaking at the launch of projects meant for rejuvenation of Ganga in Uttarkahand, did not name any party, but his remarks seem to be aimed against Congress, which is spearheading protests in party-governed Punjab and some districts in neighbouring Haryana. He attributed the protests to the frustration of a party that had been in power for generations and did not want farmers to have the freedom of selling their produce in open market. He said “one party” has opposed everything from Jan Dhan accounts, GST, One Rank One Pension, Rafale, Statue of Unity, 10% reservation for the poor to celebration of November 26 as ‘Samvidhan Diwas’. Modi said people had seen for themselves the role of Jan Dhan accounts in direct benefit transfer schemes during the Covid pandemic and they must remember how the scheme was opposed while being introduced by the Centre. He said after opposing the Ram Mandir in the SC for decades, they even began opposing laying of its foundation stone in Ayodhya. “They want middlemen to continue to make profit by buying farmers’ produce at lower prices,” said the PM. The PM’s remarks came even as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman targeted Congress over party chief Sonia Gandhi’s advice to party-governed states to bypass farm laws and said the opposition party in its 2019 Lok Sabha poll manifesto had promised to repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committees Act, reports ANI. She asked in tweets if Congress had made false promises or was “provoking people now”.

The Times of India

2020-09-30

India