'Some Forces Trying To Mislead Farmers Over Agrarian Reform Bills,' PM Modi Remarks After Harsimrat Kaur's Resignation

PM Modi Said “The passage of historic agrarian reform bills in the Lok Sabha is an important moment for the farmers and agriculture sector of the country."

New Delhi: As the Lok Sabha passed two agrarian bills on Thursday even while Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal tendered resignation in protest, Prime Minister Narendra called the passage of the bill in the lower house as a historic move.  Hours after Kaur’s resignation in a four page letter addressed to him, Modi said that some forces are trying to mislead the farmers on the bill. PM Modi who was responding to birthday wishes from international leaders, took out time to tweet about the bills that have sparked widespread protests among farmers, particularly in Punjab and Haryana. PM tweeted: “The passage of historic agrarian reform bills in the Lok Sabha is an important moment for the farmers and agriculture sector of the country. These bills will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles.” This agrarian reform will provide new opportunities for farmers to sell their produce, which will increase their profits. With this, our agriculture sector will get the benefit of modern technology, whereas the farmers will be empowered, he said. Many forces are engaged in confusing the farmers. I assure my farmer brothers and sisters that the system of MSP and government procurement will remain same. These bills are really going to empower the farmers by giving them many more options, he added.

किसानों को भ्रमित करने में बहुत सारी शक्तियां लगी हुई हैं। मैं अपने किसान भाइयों और बहनों को आश्वस्त करता हूं कि MSP और सरकारी खरीद की व्यवस्था बनी रहेगी। ये विधेयक वास्तव में किसानों को कई और विकल्प प्रदान कर उन्हें सही मायने में सशक्त करने वाले हैं। #JaiKisan

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 17, 2020

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) member Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against three farm sectors bills. "I have resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter and sister," she tweeted, barely hours before the bills were passed by Lok Sabha. Her resignation came soon after her husband and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly opposed the bills in Lok Sabha, claiming that they will "destroy" the agriculture sector in Punjab, and announced that the Union minister will quit the government in protest. In her four-page resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kaur said despite her persistent pleas and repeated efforts from her party, the Central government has not taken farmers on board regarding these bills. Two of the bills were passed by Lok Sabha with voice vote today and will now be tabled in Rajya Sabha. One had already been passed on Tuesday. After the passage of the farm bills, Badal told reporters that his party will decide on the future course of action, and whether to stay in the ruling NDA in a party meeting later.