Almost a month since a large number of farmers began protesting against the new agriculture bills pushed through the Parliament without due diligence in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held virtual talks yesterday with representatives of the farmers, asserting how his government’s policies have benefitted the farm sector.Modi’s virtual public address was not focused on the new farm laws under contention, which farmers say must be repealed.
Six rounds of talks between government officials and farmer union leaders have failed to resolve the deadlock. Thousands of farmers from several Indian states have been camped on the outskirts of New Delhi for weeks, partially blocking highways to demand that Modi’s government repeal the September farm laws that they claim threaten their livelihoods.
In his remarks on Christmas day, which coincides with the late-BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 96th birth anniversary, Modi showcased his “PM Kisan” program for farmers. This refers to a cash transfer scheme his government had set up in February 2019, under which farmers receive minimum income support— transferring another Rs 180 billion to the program.
