PM Modi stated that the government gave the highest priority to agriculture development and farmer welfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the government’s decision to scrap all three agricultural laws which have seen protests from groups of farmers in some states.

In an address to the nation, PM Modi said that the constitutional process to repeal these laws will be completed in the Parliament’s Winter Session starting later this month.

The Prime Minister also wished the people on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti and expressed happiness that the Kartarpur Sabih Corridor had now reopened after a gap of one-and-a-half years.

The Prime Minister used the opportunity to explain why the government had brought in the three farm laws in the first place.

The objective was that the farmers of the country, especially small farmers, should be strengthened, they should get the right price for their produce and maximum options to sell the produce, he pointed out.

The Prime Minister said for years, farmers of the country, agricultural experts of the country and farmers' organizations of the country were continuously making this demand. Earlier also, many governments had brainstormed on this.

This time also there was discussion in Parliament, brainstorming took place and these laws were brought up. In every nook and corner of the country, many farmers' organizations welcomed and supported it, he said.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the organizations, farmers and individuals who supported the move.

The government brought these laws for the welfare of farmers, specially small farmers, in the interest of the agriculture sector, for a bright future of ‘gaanv-gareeb’ - village-poor, with full integrity, clear conscience and dedication towards farmers, he stated.

PM Modi continued, “such a sacred thing, absolutely pure, a matter of farmers' interest, we could not explain to some farmers despite our efforts. Agricultural economists, scientists, progressive farmers also tried their best to make them understand the importance of agricultural laws”.

“Today I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws. In the Parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws,” said Prime Minister Modi in his address.

In the spirit of holy Gurupurab, he said that today was not the day for blaming anyone and rededicated himself to working for the welfare of the farmers.

He also outlined the steps taken by the government for the benefit of the farming community.

“I have seen the challenges of the farmers very closely in my five decades of public life, that is why, when I was given the opportunity to serve the country as Prime Minister in 2014, we gave the highest priority to agriculture development and farmer welfare,” Modi said in his address.

He said that four-prong measures of seeds, insurance, market and savings were taken to ameliorate the conditions of farmers.

Along with good quality seeds, the government also connected the farmers with facilities like neem coated urea, soil health card and micro irrigation, Prime Minister Modi said.

He pointed out that many initiatives had been taken for the farmers to get the right price for their produce in return for their hard work.

According to the PM Modi, the country has strengthened its rural market infrastructure.

“We not only increased the MSP, but also created a record number of government procurement centers. The procurement of the produce made by our government has broken the records of the last several decades”, he said.

The Prime Minister said in this great campaign to improve the condition of the farmers, three agricultural laws were brought in the country.

Prime Minister Modi announced the formation of a committee to promote zero budgeting based agriculture, to change crop pattern as per the changing needs of the country and to make MSP more effective and transparent.

The committee will have representatives of the central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural economists, he said.