Farm laws not anti-farmer, says Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Mhya Presh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said three farm laws enacted by NDA government at Centre were t anti-farmer, but reflective of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to ensure welfare of ryots.

Hailing Modi's handling of coronavirus pandemic by implementing a lockdown, he said even US President Donald Trump could t man situation and lost polls.

dressing party supporters at conclusion of Tamil Nu BJP's Vel Yatra here, Singh warned those denigrating Lord Muruga and Hindus in Tamil Nu t to cross limit, "else people will t spare you." Such persons were "anti-nationals" he charged.

state BJP, under its chief L Murugan, h embarked on a month long 'Vel Yatra' or 'Vetrivel Yatra,' in hour of Lord Muruga after an aist group Karuppar Kootam allegedly denigrated Tamil hymn Kandasashti Kavacham, sung in praise of God, in a You Tube video.

Vel Yatra aimed at covering all six abodes of Lord Muruga, from Tiruttani to here, in Tuticorin district. BJP leers h courted arrest in many places since state government denied permission for rally, citing COVID- 19 situation.

Vel is a spear-like weapon of Lord Muruga. On farm laws, against which scores of farmers, mainly from Punjab, have been protesting outside Delhi for nearly a fortnight, BJP leer said it was t against m.

Listing out Modi's various pro-farmer initiatives like providing m with cash assistance and crop insurance, he claimed that Prime Minister's efforts in this regard was "unparalleled." "It is Modi who enacted three farm laws. I can say with conviction, se legislations are t anti-farmer," he said.

"If a farmer can sell his produce for a better price outside market, what is problem to anyone, what is so anti-farmer about this? If a farmer is assured of a price for his produce, if a trer buys more from a farmer without any ceiling for stocks, what is against farmer about it?" he asked.

He alleged that opposition parties like Congress and DMK could t fight BJP face to face and were refore opposing farm laws.

"I believe in Modi's leership and want to assure him that farmers are behind him, Tamil Nu is behind him and so is country," he said.

Modi has worked for every section of society and for all-round development, he said and recalled an old song from a film of late matinee idol and former chief minister M G Ramachandran to say Modi was taking forward an inclusive development model.

On COVID-19 issue also, he lauded Modi. He said when pandemic h stunned entire world, where countries like US, UK and Germany suffered bly, Modi h introduced lockdown and entire country rallied behind him.

"Modi handled pandemic situation successfully. Trump could t handle corona and lost polls. Modi has successfully led country out of corona pandemic challenge," he ded. He expressed confidence that country would soon get a vaccine for coronavirus.

Singh, who said "Modi is a gift to country," insisted that latter was taking forward welfare initiatives started by MGR, including those on women's welfare. On Karuppar Kootam controversy, he hit out at those who h denigrated Lord Muruga.

"It is unfortunate that Karuppar Kootam h insulted Lord Muruga, who is central to all Hindus and ir faith. He protects all, blesses all. I want to challenge all those people, don't cross limit, else people of Tamil Nu and India will t spare you," he said.

He urged people of Tamil Nu to reject such aistic forces that are "against our culture and support Modi, whose mantra is sabka saath sabka vikas (inclusive development) and move forward with BJP." It was this plank of development that me people choose BJP, including in recent by-polls in his state, where party put up a good show to continue in power, he said.

This was case with states like Bihar, "where party was written off by media." He hailed BJP coming second in Greater Hyderab Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls last week, where it came second.

He claimed party would next come to power in West Bengal, where polls are due in 2021 while NDA will form government in Tamil Nu after next year's Assembly elections.

Cautioning Congress ally DMK in state, he said those who h joined hands with former recently h "sunk along with it." DMK Chief M K Stalin will t survive if he aligned with national party, Chouhan said. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/OfficeofSSC)