MSP will continue, PM invites farmers for talk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended his government's policies on farmers and  assured the farmers that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism for crops would continue while inviting the union leaders for a fresh round of talks to resolve the impasse over the farm laws. PM Modi said, "MSP was there. MSP is there. MSP will remain in the future. Affordable ration for the poor will continue. Mandis will be modernised." Questioning Opposition parties for their "U-turn" on the agriculture reforms, PM Modi read out a quote by former prime minister  Dr Manmohan Singh."There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get highest rate of return...It is our intention to remove all those handicaps which come in the way of India realising its vast potential at one large common market," Modi said.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon several issues including Covid-19, farmers' protest and international attention to it. He quipped at the Congress: "You should be proud - Manmohan Singh talked about it but Modi is having to do it." He said it would have been better if all political parties had attended the President's address to the joint sitting of both the houses. Modi said that India successfully undertook the task of putting up a valiant fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi said, India has started world's largest vaccination drive in the world. He said, India has emerged as a pharmacy hub of the world in recent times. The Prime Minister said, the country sent medicines to over 150 countries to aid their fight against the pandemic. He said, India has made a special place even amidst the corona crisis. Modi said, these tough times have also shown the strength of the cooperative federalism in the country.

The PM also hit out at those behind the protests, saying a new "breed" of agitators had emerged in the country and the country should be aware of them."A new entity has come up in the country — 'Andolan Jeevi'. They can be spotted wherever there is a protest, be it agitation by lawyers, students, or labourers, explicitly or implicitly. They cannot live without 'andolan', we have to identify them and protect the nation from them," the PM said.PM Modi also said the country needs to guard against a new FDI — "foreign destructive ideology". "The nation is making progress and we are talking about FDI but I see that a new FDI has come to the fore. We have to protect the nation from this new FDI. We need Foreign Direct Investment but the new FDI is 'Foreign Destructive Ideology', we have to protect ourselves from it," he said.

"Some people are trying to create unrest in India. We should not forget what happened with Punjab. In 1984, Punjab suffered the most. What happened in J&K, northeast hurt India. Sikhs are being misled. The country is proud of the Sikhs," PM Modi said referring to the recent international support to farmers' protest. The Prime Minister said, India is a land of opportunities and the country is full of vigour and energy which does not let go of any opportunity. He said, the whole world is watching India and they have many hopes as well.