"Only Group Of Farmers Protesting": Government In Farm Laws Repeal Note
NDTV
Sections of the note - specifically the bit about "a small group of farmers" - echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement from last week
Two days before it is to table a bill in Parliament to scrap the farm laws, the government issued a note on 'Objects and Reasons' for its U-turn over laws that triggered a nearly 15-month protest by tens of thousands of farmers, led to severe criticism of the ruling BJP, and made headlines globally.
The note, released to members of Parliament, blames a group of farmers for standing in the way of "the endeavour to improve the condition of farmers, including small and marginal...", and says the government "tried hard to sensitise farmers on the importance of the farm laws".
"Even though only a group of farmers are protesting against these laws, the government has tried to hard to sensitise farmers on the importance of the farm laws and explain the merits through several meetings and other forums," the note, signed by Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar, said.
It said the laws were "to enable farmers to sell produce at higher prices and benefit from technological improvements... (and get) access to markets to help increase income...".
