Farmers being misled; govt open to amend farm laws if needed: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted government is rey to talk openly on new agricultural laws and amend m if needed even as he said farmers agitating against legislations are being "misled".

Singh, a former agriculture minister, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has alrey clarified in Parliament that existing MSP (minimum support price) system will continue and that transactions under new laws will be for farmers' produce and t for ir land.

In an dress at an online event organised by Mhya Presh government, defence minister said new farms laws were enacted to ensure right price to farmers for ir produce and help m sell ir produce anywhere in country.

"An atmosphere of confusion was created and it was said that wholesale market will longer exist, MSP system will come to an end and land of farmers would be mortgd," he said, ding farmers were "misled" and se confusions were created by people with "vested interests".

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said very clearly in Parliament recently that re was MSP, re is MSP and re will be MSP," he said.

He said farmers are being misled despite clear articulation over new laws and provisions by government. " government is rey to talk openly on se agricultural laws and amend m if needed," defence minister said.

Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting at three border points on outskirts of Delhi demanding repeal of three contentious farm laws. talks between two sides are delocked as agitating farmers are insisting on complete repeal of laws.

farmers believe implementation of new farm laws will le to closure of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) that operate wholesale markets in states. y also have apprehension that new laws will eventually result in transfer of agricultural land of small and marginal farmers to big companies. government has rejected such apprehensions.

"In view of steps by our government, a new confidence is seen in common farmers. Due to this confidence, farmers produced record production of crops despite coronavirus pandemic," said Singh.

"Our government understands that rural areas are foundation of country's progress. Most of people of our country live in rural areas and contribute towards development of nation in different ways," he said. At event, Singh also paid glowing tributes to Jan Sangh founder Deendayal Uphyay.