Farm bills bring 'freedom' to farmers, Opposition 'misleading, lying' to them: PM

In a forceful defence of farm sector reform bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that y have brought "freedom" to farmers and given m a "protection shield", as he accused opposition of standing with middlemen and "misleing" peasants by "lying" to m.

With opposition parties dubbing three bills, passed by Lok Sabha and w to be tabled in Rajya Sabha, as "anti-farmers" and BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal quitting his government to protest m, Modi refuted ir criticism, describing se proposed laws as "historic" and stating that y will unshackle farmers by allowing m to sell ir produce anywhere at a better price.

Speaking at virtual launch of several rail projects in Bihar, Modi chose to speak at length on se bills, which have sparked protests by farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana, and sought to assu concerns of farming community by assuring m government procurement of ir produce will continue and so will minimum support price (MSP).

"This misinformation is w being spre that government will t give MSP benefits to farmers. Manufactured claims are being me government will longer purchase wheat, rice and or grains. This is a blatant lie aimed at deceiving farmers," Modi said.

In 21st century, se bills are need of country, he said, ding that farmers will longer remain in shackles and sell his produce wherever y want.

Launching a blistering attack on Congress without naming party, Modi said those who ruled country for deces are "deceiving and misleing" farmers by spreing misleing and "lying" to m on provisions of se bills, which seek to replace ordinances brought in by Centre.

Those who are opposing changes in Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act h me similar promises in ir manifesto, he said in a reference to Congress and ded that when BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has done it, n se people are opposing it.

"se people forget as to how much aware country's farmers are. Farmers can see that some people do t like opportunities being provided to m. y can see who are standing with middlemen who pocket a big part of ir earnings," prime minister said.

se reforms will act as a "protection shield" for farmers from se middlemen between farmers and consumers, he ded.

"se reforms will provide our food-providers (farmers) many more options to sell ir produce. se legislations have ridded our farmers of many shackles and brought m freedom," Modi said.

He ted that everyone but farmers were allowed so far to sell ir products anywhere y wanted and asserted that y can do so w across country at a better price once.

Modi listed a number of measures, including hike in MSPs and direct cash transfer to farmers, taken by his government since it came to power first in 2014 to assert that dispensation has done as much for farmers as NDA has in its six years of rule at Centre.

Lok Sabha on Thursday passed Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, which seek to promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state tre in agricultural produce, amid protests by ruling NDA constituent Shiromani Akali Dal and opposition.

Ar bill related to farm sector, Essential Commodities(Amendment) Bill, was passed on Tuesday.