Record jabs on PM’s birthday; Oppn, farmers mark ‘black day’

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 17

On this day last year, the Lok Sabha passed the contentious farm laws, which the Narendra Modi government said were “aimed at transforming the agriculture sector and raising farmers’ income”. After a tumultuous year of widespread protests, farmers and Opposition parties today again registered their protest against the laws on PM Modi’s birthday, celebrated by the ruling party as “sewa divas”.

The BJP managed to turn the occasion into a landmark for the government by holding a mega drive to administer record Covid doses. Party president JP Nadda said, “Crores of party workers supported the mass vaccination drive.”

Making clear the government’s stance on the farm laws, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, “The laws have been enacted to encourage the next generation to invest in agriculture and ensure profitable yield for crops.”

“The government will spend Rs 6,850 crore to set up 10,000 new farmers’ producing organisations. As a result, the lives of about 86 per cent farmers would be transformed,” Tomar said at an event in Hyderabad.

Farmers and BJP’s rivals, including the SAD and AAP, observed “black day”.

The BJP, which launched the “sewa aur samarpan” campaign, will organise various programmes like blood donation and medical camps, cleanliness drive and free ration distribution among the poor till October 7, which marks PM Modi’s 20 years in public life since he became the Gujarat CM in 2001.

Nadda said it was a matter of pride for the country and BJP workers to have PM Modi as a guiding personality.

Pride and protest

• The BJP celebrated PM’s birthday as ‘sewa divas’ and organised a mega vaccine drive
• Farmers and Opposition parties held protests to mark the first anniversary of passage of farm laws
• The SAD and AAP called for renewed revolt to bring justice for farmers

Much to be done: PM

Our shared journey continues…there is much to be done. We will not rest till we have achieved our dream of a strong, prosperous and inclusive India…the India our freedom fighters devoted their lives for. Narendra Modi, PM