Farmers Movement Archive

PM slams Opposition for ‘supporting’ middlemen

Stating that government had done more for villages and their residents in the past six years than what was done in six decades before that, Mr. Modi referred to a number of projects, including opening of bank accounts, building of toilets and houses, cooking gas scheme and electrification. “Rural India was left to fend for itself by those who ruled the country earlier. I cannot do that,” he said. “Many people don’t want villages, poor, farmers and labourers to be atmanirbhar (self-reliant),” he said, adding that his government’s measures to empower them, including by directly transferring to farmers and others, had hit the Opposition hard by cutting off their source of illegitimate earning. Without naming the Opposition, he said it was upset not for the farmers but for itself as it was for long strengthened by the power of middlemen, brokers and commission agents. The Congress and the BJP’s own former ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal have been opposing the farm laws enacted by the government last month. Parliament had passed The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 during the monsoon session. “Those who looted the country are being recognised by people. That is why they are indulging in opposition, bad-mouthing (government) and using foul language. They are not bothered about the poor, villages or the country... They want to stop the development march of the country,” Mr. Modi said.

The Hindu

2020-10-12

October 12 2020 00:00 IST