Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the passing of two farm reform Bills by Parliament as "historic" even as his top Ministers decried the behaviour of the Opposition party MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Chairman of the Upper House Venkaih Naidu discussed with the Government what action it proposed to take against the MPs who tossed Parliament's rule back at the Deputy Chairman and yanked out his microphone.
Soon after the RS passed two key farm Bills aimed at giving “marketing freedom to farmers”, the PM assured the farmers that Minimum support Price and the Government procurement of their produce would continue. "The passing of historic agrarian reform Bills in the Lok Sabha is an important moment for the country`s farmers and the agricultural sector. These Bills will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles," Modi tweeted.
Modi said it would empower farmers."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.
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the behaviour of Opposition parties against the Deputy-Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described it as "very shameful".
On the question as why the Government did not remove the misgivings on the MSP by guaranteeing it in the bill as was suggested by the RSS affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Rajanth, who was addressing a press conference along with five other Union Ministers, said such had never been done in the Act previously but assured that MSP and APMC (Agriculture Produce Market committee) would continue for the benefit of the farmers.
"Mai do took shabdo main kisano ko message dena chahta hoo ki, kisi bhi surat main MSP aur APMC khatam nahin honnge", Rajnath said stressing that he too was a 'kisan' and a former Agriculture Minister.
He said the Government has increased the MSP and been successful "to a large extent" towards "doubling the income of the farmers" and "we are moving further in the direction"