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Reforms Aimed at Benefiting Farmers, Insists Modi as 11 Protesters Die Near Delhi

CC BY 4.0 / President of the Russian Federation press service / Prime Minister of India Narendra ModiPrime Minister of India Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi - Sputnik International
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Since 26 November, thousands of farmers from across India have been protesting at the Delhi border against three agriculture-related laws passed by the Modi government in September. Farmers consider these changes to be corporate-friendly and against their interests.

As thousands of farmers from the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh head towards Delhi to intensify protests, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to reassure them of the benefits to be reaped by newly passed farm laws. While addressing corporate leaders at the 93rd Annual General Meeting of industry body FICCI, Modi said that farmers will benefit from more technology and be able to access more markets via the agriculture reforms.

Modi emphasised that the new legislation will take down the age-old barriers built around the agricultural sector, adding that farmers will now benefit from being able to sell their produce to private players.
© REUTERS / ADNAN ABIDIFarmers listen to a speaker as they attend a protest against the newly passed farm bills at Singhu border near New Delhi, India, December 7, 2020
Reforms Aimed at Benefiting Farmers, Insists Modi as 11 Protesters Die Near Delhi - Sputnik International
Farmers listen to a speaker as they attend a protest against the newly passed farm bills at Singhu border near New Delhi, India, December 7, 2020

The government is committed to protecting the interests of farmers through its policies and intentions, says PM Modi as 11 protesting farmers have lost their lives in the last 17 days. 

Thousands of others, meanwhile, have started their march towards Delhi, where around 50,000 farmers are sitting on the two major highways linking the national capital with the rest of the country. Farmers have also announced a complete blockade of the Delhi-Jaipur highway - one of the busiest and industry-heavy regions of the country from Sunday.  

The protesters have occupied a nearly 10km stretch on two highways, the Singhu and Tikri. Additional security arrangements are currently being made at other entry points where security agencies suspect farmers will try to enter Delhi.

​The farmers have been protesting on the outskirts of Delhi demanding a complete rollback of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Farmers believe that the new laws will pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system (MSP), leaving them at the mercy of big corporate entities.

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