Bhubaneswar: Farmers have nothing to do with the ongoing protests against the new farm reform laws. Moreover, anti-national forces are behind such agitations, said Union Minister Pratap Sarangi on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that MSP and mandi system will remain and the farmers do not have to worry about it, said the Union Minister.
“Be it farmers or leaders, nobody is above law. Some anti-national forces are behind the ongoing farmers’ protest. The farm reforms laws have been enacted for the development of farmers,” said Union Minister Pratap Sarangi.
Sarangi said that there is no basis of the farmers’ protest as the Centre has given freedom to the farmers after 74-years of country’s Independence. The mandi and MSP system has been kept intact under the new farm laws, he said.
“The middle-men who were harassing and forcing them to go for distress sale of their produce are opposing the new laws. The farmers are not forced to sell their produce at any fixed rates.
Had those people who are opposing the farm laws had ever raised their voice for farmers to protect them for middlemen in the past. Only the middlemen will be affected by the farm laws, said Sarangi.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)