CHENNAI: Daring former Congress President Rahul Gandhi for a open debate on the three Farm laws, which was being opposed by farmers in Punjab, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar today said the Centre would solidly stand behind the farmers, who were misguided by their ‘political masters’.
Addressing the farmers at a function on PM Kisan Scheme at suburban Maraimalainagar, he allayed the fears of farmers and assured that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) will continue
Reiterating that the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi “will solidly” stand behind the farmers and the public, he alleged that “some” farmers protesting against the three Farm laws were being misguided by their “political masters” and were painting a picture claiming as if the farmers across the country were with them.
Having a dig at Rahul Gandhi for criticising the farm laws, the Union Minister said “he (Rahul) appears (in public) once in a fortnight” and dared him for an open debate on the three laws.”
Stating that farmers in Punjab have received more than double the amount as MSP during the NDA rule than they had received during the previous Congress-led UPA regime, Mr Javadekar said their income has already doubled. ”But still, they are agitating as they are being misguided,” he added.
He said the nearly month-long protests by the farmers has become an intense topic for debate across the country because “some farmers and their political masters have launched the protest in and along New Delhi, showing as if it was all- India phenomenon and in the interest of farmers of India.”
“But farmers everywhere are happy with the new laws and the farmers welfare schemes will continue,” the minister said.
He said the farmers in Punjab were “deliberately misguided” that they would lose the MSP because of the three laws leading to the present protests.
But there was no protests by farmers in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradeshas they were not misguided, he said.
(AGENCIES)
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