AMN / NEW DELHI
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said that the opposition was misleading the farmers in the country by propagating blatant lies about the farm bills.
Speaking in Lok Sabha today, he reiterated that the bills do not affect the MSP or process of government procurement in any way.
Mr. Tomar asserted that the announcement of increase in MSP of six Rabi Crops even before the sowing season shows the commitment of the current government towards Minimum Support Price and procurement of Agri products.
He said, the bill paves way for enhanced usage of modern techniques in farming.
The Agriculture Minister informed that the government paid nearly Rs. 7 lakh crore to the farmers as part of MSP payment in the last 6 years which is almost double the amount that was paid from 2009 to 2014 under the UPA government’s tenure.
The minister said, the hike which is in consonance with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission’s report reflects the current government’s commitment towards Minimum Support Price and procurement of agri products in the country.
He reiterated that the recently passed farm bills in the parliament do not impact MSP or provisions of APMC Act in any way.
Mr. Tomar also appealed to the farmers not to fall prey to the false or misleading political tactics of the opposition parties.
He said, the government has also increased the procurement centres for wheat by 1.5 times and for pulses and oilseeds by 3 times during the Covid pandemic.
The minister also informed that 15 percent more procurement of wheat has been done during these testing times along with disbursal of nearly Rs. 75 thousand crore to the farmers.
Opposition parties including Congress, TMC, DMK, CPM, Samajwadi Party, BSP, NCP among others staged protests against the three farm bills in Lok Sabha while the minister was speaking.
The MPs walked into the well of the house and raised slogans and placards against the bill.
Opposition parties walked out from the lower house immediately after the statement of the Agriculture Minister.
Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded that the government should include the provision of MSP in the Farm bill and said that the entire opposition has decided to boycott the session until the government agrees to their demands.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour after MPs led by the Congress raised slogans and banners to protest against the farm Bills.
As soon as the House met for the day, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu raised the issue of action by Delhi police on the protesting MPs in the National Capital.