Facing protests by farmers on the three agriculture-related Bills passed by Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the NDA government had created history with regard to increase in MSPs of crops.
Addressing a party function held to commemorate Bharatiya Jana Sangh chief Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary, he again defended the proposed legislations and said that small farmers would benefit the most.
“Small and marginal farmers, who constitute 86 per cent of those involved in agriculture, will benefit the most from agricultural reforms and the new laws,” Modi added.
The Prime Minister exhorted BJP workers to take the message of agriculture reforms and its benefits to the Indian farmers.
He also attacked the opposition parties, adding that only empty slogans were given by previous governments in the name of farmers till now.
As for labour reforms, he said: “Only 30 per cent workers were so far covered under the minimum wages guarantee scheme, but now it will be extended to all workers in the unorganised sector. New laws will ensure timely salary to over 50 crore workers.”
The Prime Minister said that the welfare schemes initiated by his government drew inspiration from Upadhyaya, while praising BJP workers for serving people during the coronavirus lockdown.
Amid opposition protests, Parliament has passed The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, apart from three Bills related to labour.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Memorial, built in the memory of late Deendayal Upadhyay in Dhanakya village, 20 km from Jaipur, will soon have a research centre to bring to the fore the diverse aspects of India as a nation. People from the nearby areas will be trained in self-employment avenues, said Deendayal Upadhyay Samaroh Samiti president Mohanlal Chheepa.
Dhanakya village is the birthplace of Pt Deendayal Upadhyay where a memorial was set up a few years ago.
Committee joint secretary Neeraj Kumawat said that the library situated in this memorial showcases the ideologies of Swami Vivekanand, Mahatma Gandhi and other personalities. This library is being developed as a research centre which will be equipped with all modern facilities and will take the ideology of Pt Upadhyay to other countries. Research students from other nations will be invited here for further research.
A data bank of institutions associated with Pt Upadhyay across the country has been set up so that all these institutions can be interlinked and their work included in this bank.
Mohanlal said there are plans for organic farming on the barren land of farmers in the surrounding areas. Also, there will be a programme to improve the breeds of cows in the gaushalas (cow shelters).
Rajasthan Heritage Protection and Promotion Authority former chairperson Onkar Singh Lakhawat said that Deendayalji spent a major part of his life in Rajasthan.
Hence came the idea for this memorial. A 15-feet tall statue of Deendayal Upadhyay made of Ashtadhatu has been installed in the memorial. Events related to his life, public meetings and meetings with senior members of society are also shown here.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s 104th birth anniversary celebrations are being held here on Friday. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s national president JP Nadda is scheduled to address the virtual event, starting at 5 p.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on various social media platforms.
Mohanlal said that along with JP Nadda, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjunram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary will also be present at the programme.
