PM Modi calls passage of farm bills ‘watershed moment’ for agricultural sector

He also highlighted the need of removal of middlemen in the farming industry. He said that for many decades farmers in India have been ‘bullied by middlemen.’

Modi said, “For decades, the Indian farmer was bound by various constraints and bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate the farmers from such adversities. These bills will add impetus to the efforts to double income of farmers and ensure greater prosperity for them.”

The prime minister reiterated his assurance regarding the system of minimum selling price (MSP) and government procurement saying that these systems will continue unhindered and the passage of the bills do not affect them in any manner. He said the bills are intended to transform the sector and empower farmers to lead a better life.

The opposition has targeted the government over the minimum selling price (MSP) and government procurement systems saying that the passage of the bills will affect these processes. MPs from several opposition parties feared that these bills will benefit private players and give rise to contract farming.

The Upper House was also adjourned as MPs from the opposition parties created a ruckus during the seventh day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session on Sunday when the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman disagreed to send the bills to a select panel.

Several farmer leaders and farmer unions have begun staging protests across Punjab and Haryana.

The government has assured that the bills will not affect the minimum selling price and the system of public procurement will not be affected by these bills. It has maintained that the APMC laws which state governments have implemented will not be affected by the bills but will only bring trade done outside the APMC farm yards under the ambit of the legislation.