The Modi Government reached out to 93 lakhs farmers on farm laws, says officials

PM Modi reaches farmers.

On Friday, the officials of the Modi government denied all the allegations of enactment of farm laws without democratic discussions and procedural consultation. The top sources cleared the air by stating that PM Modi had mentioned about the reforms more than 25 times and made significant efforts to reach out to the farmers without passing the legislation. Farmers and Active unions are protesting against the new farm laws issued by the government on the borders of National Capital Delhi as they hold the vision that these laws will squeeze the food security and financial conditions of farmers. The protestors are demanding the centre to repeal these laws.

The sources challenged the perception that the laws were passed in an impulsive manner without appropriate discussion over the bill. The government claims to have reached the farmers "before and after" the formulation of laws. The sources said, "PM emphasized on this more than 25 times, more than 2.23 crore SMS were sent to farmers in October, more than 137,000 webinars were conducted and 93 lakh farmers were contacted before rolling out the bill. The Agriculture Minister, Narendra Tomar held multiple meetings."

A deep focus was laid on the phrase, "more than 25 times" to indicate PM's addressal every week on this subject. The conception that the government passed the legislation without proper survey, outreach and dialogue is highly misleading and misplaced as described by sources, highlighting the 'multiple levels' of approach adopted by the government. The outrage of farmers is rising day by day without a sign of regulation or control. Farmers are recklessly protesting against the laws on highways near Delhi. Government's clarification came out on the day when a prominent farmer group knocked the gates of the Supreme Court to quash the laws.

The petition regards the laws as arbitrary and unlawful. Amendments were passed in September in an attempt to modify procurement procedures and open up markets for multinational exposure. However, the farmers feel that these laws will thrash the government regulated market that bought their produce at Minimum Selling Price (MSP) and will put them at the hands and mercy of private buyers. Several opposition parties backed the protests alleging the government of rushing into things.