PM requests farmers to end stir, start talks

Assures perpetual MSP, warns against ‘Andolan Jeevis’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out in strong defence of the three controversial agricultural reform laws brought in by his government and urged the protesting farmers to end their agitation.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Mr Modi said: “End your protests and we will all sit together and talk. We are ready for talks and I am inviting you again for a dialogue from this House.”

Taking on the Opposition, the PM said the Congress had taken a U-turn on the farm laws, reading out the words of former PM Manmohan Singh. He added: “Those who are not listening to what we are saying will hopefully listen to Manmohan Ji’s words. You should, in fact, be proud of the fact that Modi has to do what Manmohan Singh said long ago.” Mr Modi assured farmers that “MSP tha, MSP hai … aur MSP rahega” (the minimum support price will remain).

“No one should spread misinformation,” he added.

The PM hinted that there was a “conspiracy” behind the protests and said FDI could be termed “Foreign Destructive Ideology”, and that the country should be aware of this. With the protests against the farm laws having gone international, with tweets by pop icon Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg supporting the farmers, Mr Modi said: “In the last few years, we have witnessed a new category of protesters ‘Andolan jeevi’, who one can see in every agitation. We must protect India from these ‘Andolan Jeevi’, who are actually ‘parjeevi’..”

Talking about the Opposition’s protests against the farm laws, the PM said: “A lot was discussed but mostly it was on the protest, not on the solution… you can oppose the procedure but could have explained to farmers that it is high time for these farm reforms… but now they are saying they were not consulted before, like ‘fufaji’ uncle who gets angry for not being invited to a wedding… this happens in large families.”