Vested interests misleading farmers: BJP MPs

New Delhi, February 8

BJP MPs Sunita Duggal and Ramesh Kaushik on Monday defended the farm laws, saying some vested interests were misleading farmers.

They defended the Union Budget, saying it was holistic, balanced and the best in the background of the devastating effect of the pandemic.

On the farm laws, they said the government was ready for further talks with farmers and open to suggestions. They said it was open to amendments and ready to commit to continuation of MSP in writing.

“The laws do not take away any facility or right. These provide new choices and alternatives. It is up to individual farmers to make their choice,” Duggal said.

“In spite of the heavy odds, Nirmala Sitharaman has presented a forward-looking Budget, which seeks to lay a strong foundation for a quantum leap of the economy in the future,” she said.

The MPs said a provision had been made with the goal of doubling the income of farmers, including MSP for foodgrain being one and a half times the input cost.

They said 1,000 mandis in the country would be linked to the e-market portal. They said the Budget proposed to expand the ambit of Operation Green Scheme, applicable only on tomato, potato and onion, to include 23 more crops. — TNS