Replying to the motion of thanks on President’s Ram Nath kovind’s address, PM Narendra Modi on Monday urged the protesting farmers to hold talks on the farm laws and slammed opposition parties for making u-turn on the issue. On Friday, the marathon debate in the Rajya Sabha had concluded with 50 speakers from 25 political parties taking part in the discussion which was spread over three days. Opposition parties were initially keen on a separate discussion on the new farm laws but had later agreed to a proposal to have it as part of the discussion on the motion of thanks. During his address, PM Modi also reiterated that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) ‘hai, tha aur rahega (it is there, it was there, it will be there).’ A legal assurance for MSP is one of the two major demands of the farmers, besides a total repeal of the laws.
Here are 10 key highlights from Modi’s Rajya Sabha speech-
1. New farm laws parallel to green revolution
PM Modi said there was a huge cry in the country to recall the green revolution at Shastri ji's time , but no one was ready to become agriculture minister".
"However, Shastri ji moved forward and today we have surplus production. The population is increasing, While the land is shrinking. We have to do something to reduce the dependence on farming.
MSP है, MSP था, MSP रहेगा... pic.twitter.com/lh6Xv1oth1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2021
2. Modi Is Doing What Manmohan Singh Promised
"I am shocked by the U-turn of many. Politics is so prevalent that people forget their own views".
"I will read out something former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said: "There are several rigidities in the whole market since the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of return. It is our intention to remove all those handicaps which come in the way of India to become one large common market."
3. Beware Of The Andolan Jeevi
Prime Minister Modi described that there is a new crop ‘Andolan Jeevi' that look for new ways to start Andolan. "We know of Shram jeevi, Buddhi jeevi, but I am observing that a new jamaat has recently taken birth in India known as Andolan jeevi," he said adding that this 'species' cannot live without protests".
4. We Don't Want The Other FDI: Foreign Destructive Ideology
Hinting at the recent 'toolkit' revelation, Modi said that "while FDI (foreign direct investment) is obviously welcome, what India should remain wary of is the other FDI which is foreign destructive ideology".
While he did not specify which ideologies does he count in the second type of FDI, this would be one story to track and observe.
Also Read| 'End agitation, hold talks': PM Modi tells farmers protesting against new farm laws
5. MSP tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega
Reiterating his government's stand on the minimum support price (MSP) regime, the Prime Minister said, “MSP tha, hai, aur rahega” (MSP was, is, and will remain).
6. Farm reforms: 'Do we want to be part of solution or problem'
"Since 2014, we have initiated changes in the agriculture sector aimed at empowering the farmer. The crop insurance scheme was changed to make it more farmer-friendly. The PM-KISAN scheme was also brought in. Small farmers have been at the centre of all our policies and schemes".
7. 'India is mother of democracy'
“Our democracy is not a western institution. Our democracy is a human institution”.
Countering TMC’s Derek O’Brien, Modi said” I was listening to Derek Ji, he had chosen good words - Freedom of Speech, Intimidation. When I was listening to him, I was wondering if he is talking about Bengal or the country".
"India's nationalism is based on 'Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram', as said by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. We have lost Netaji's vision over the years, and today we are searching for ourselves".
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8. 'Coronavirus an unknown enemy'
"The Covid-19 period has added new strength to our federal structure and the spirit of cooperative federalism. We were fighting against an unknown enemy. The world wondered how India will tackle the crisis. Everybody did their own analysis on how to fight this unknown enemy. With the grace of God, we have managed it well. The credit to win this war goes to the people of India, not an individual or any government. India did it, even the poorest did".
9. India is proud of contribution of Sikhs.
"India is very proud of the Sikh community. This is a community that has done so much for the nation. The words and blessings of the Guru Sahibs are precious. We mustn't forget what happened with Punjab. It suffered the most during partition. It cried the most during 1984 riots. They became victims of most painful incidents. Innocents were killed in J&K. Business of weapons was carried out in northeast. All this affected the nation".
10. Modi lauds the armed forces.
"The Indian armed forces have given appropriate reply to misadventures on the border. Notably, both New Delhi and Beijing are entangled in a bitter month-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh sector".
