Modi says government committed to farmers' welfare

  • Reuters
  • Commodities News
Modi says government committed to farmers' welfare
Credit: © Reuters.

(Adds trade minister comments)

By Sankalp Phartiyal and Mayank Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured farmers on Saturday that reforms in the agrarian sector were aimed at helping them as thousands of farmers continued protests against three new laws to overhaul procurement and sale of produce.

"Reforms will help draw investment in agriculture and benefit farmers," he said at the annual meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi.

"The aim of the all government reforms is to make farmers' prosperous," he said adding that private sector must help improve the country's agriculture sector.

But protesting farmers in northern states fear the new legislation will eventually dismantle India's regulated markets and stop the government from buying wheat and rice at guaranteed prices, leaving them at the mercy of private buyers.

At least 30 farmer unions are actively protesting against the new laws. Talks between leaders of the farmers' unions and government officials have failed to break the deadlock with the farmers demanding the complete rollback of the reforms.

Despite Modi's latest assurances, thousands of farmers are trying to enter New Delhi from neighbouring states to press for the repeal of the new legislation.

At the same event, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said the government was committed to doubling farmers' income and the ongoing "farmer agitation was infiltrated by Leftists and Maoists."

Last weekend, thousands of members of the Indian diaspora held rallies in London against the new laws while over 15 Indian opposition parties supported the protest.

Farmer unions have said the new laws were introduced without consultation and they fear losing earnings and protection over guaranteed prices.

"We plan to protest peacefully," said Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Indian Farmer Union).

"The government must accept our demands if they want us to stop our protest," Rajewal said. (Writing by Rupam Jain, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sam Holmes)

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  • Jerome Selvanathan @Jerome Selvanathan
    education, medicine is already conquered by corporate and the only area left is farming. all sort of nonsense us going to happen. in the name of development Modi is spoiling India.
    Like 0
  • Jerome Selvanathan @Jerome Selvanathan
    education, medicine is already conquered by corporate and the only area left is farming. all sort of nonsense us going to happen. in the name of development Modi is spoiling India.
    Like 0
  • Rakesh Prasad @Rakesh Prasad
    He is very committed for Adani and Ambani.
    Like 1
  • Abbas Hussaini @Abbas Hussaini
    😆
    Like 1
  • Praveen Ahluwalia @Praveen Ahluwalia
    The current order of capital markets have a single pointed goal which is to maximize profit and give best returns to the share holder. how can they keep in mind the interest of a social body (farmer). On the contrary they will buy out the regulators and exploit the conditions to the hilt.
    Like 1
  • Prakaram Attry @Prakaram Attry
    Fudu bna raha hai
    Like 5
  • Tejash Dhanani @Tejash Dhanani
    gst ke liye bhi yahi bola , notebandhi ke liye bhi same dialogue ... ground level zero ...
    Like 10
    • ishtiyaq ahmed @ishtiyaq ahmed
      but u people still vote for him ????
      Like 1
    • Sumeet Malik @Sumeet Malik
      Farming today is one of the best profession in India, subsidised by government not only for yield but also purchase, this is a huge burden that taxpayers like me have to carry and pay for, how long should government continue with these subsidies is the question
      Like 0
    • Sunil Verma @Sunil Verma
      @Sumeet Malik tera Tax to Maliya, Chokshi jese luttere lekar bhag gaye, pehle vo to le le. gyan baad m jhaadna
      Like 1

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