The minister castigates Congress party for misleading the farmers and says that the party has got exposed.
Sunday, 04 October 2020 | PNS | Dehradun
The Union Education minister and Haridwar MP, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has said that the passage of three agriculture reform bills from parliament would pave the way for doubling the income of farmers of the country. Addressing the media persons at the state secretariat here on Saturday, the union minister said these bills would liberate farmers from legal and other clutches and they would be strengthened. Coming down heavily on the Congress party misleading the farmers he said that the dual character of the party has got exposed before the country. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi in the year 2013 had said that the Congress ruled states would keep the fruits and vegetables out from the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) act and now the Congress party is opposing change in APMC act. Nishank reminded that the Congress in its election manifesto had clearly said that the party when voted to power would repeal the APMC act and make trade in agriculture produce free from all restrictions and now when the Narendra Modi government is taking firm steps to empower farmers, the Congress party is misleading the farmers. The minister categorically stated that there would be no change in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime. He said that PM Modi and the agriculture minister have repeatedly assured the MSP and in fact the MSP of many crops have been increased by the Modi government. Elaborating the three bills which have now become act, Nishank said that the ‘Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 would free the farmers from shackles and give right to farmers to sell his produce in the market of his choice. There would be a transparent competitive digital trade and farmers would get the best price for their produce. Nishank said that the ‘Farmers ( Empowerment and Protection) agreement on Price Assurance and Farm services Bill-2020 aims to increase research and development and input of modern technology in farming. The farmers who have entered into a contract would get easy credit, timely payment and logistic support. About the ‘Essential Commodities (amendment) bill, the minister said that the whole supply chain would be strengthened and it would promote investment in the farming sector.
Listing the achievement of the Narendra Modi government in the farming sector, Nishank said that the agriculture budget in 2009-10 was Rs 12000 Crore which has increased to 1.34 Lakh thousand Crore. Under the ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’ a total of Rs 92000 Crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of farmers. The minister claimed that under the ‘Atmanirbhar’ package, Rs 1 lakh Crore have been earmarked. He added that an arrangement of Rs 15 lakh Crore has been made for providing loans to the farmers under the present regime. The minister attacked the Congress party for paying only lip services to the cause of farmers and said that it was Modi government which implemented the recommendation of Swaminathan committee which fixed the MSP at one and half times of the input cost.
The minister also read out a comparative account of the MSP of major crops during UPA and NDA regime and said that the Narendra Modi government has affected enormous increase in the MSP of all crops.
