New Delhi: Making a fresh appeal to agitating farmers to resume talks with the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha that the government and Parliament have great respect for those who are voicing their views on the three farm Bills, and asserted that he holds their agitation 'sacred'.
Modi staunchly defended the three contentious farms laws and made it clear that the new system under these laws was not compulsory and only provided more options.
He also attacked the Opposition for "misleading" the farmers, saying those who are disrupting the House are doing so as per a "well-planned strategy" as they are unable to digest that people can see the truth.
During his over 90-minute speech, most of which was devoted to the farmers' issues, Modi said his government is open to amending the laws if there are any shortcomings, noting that the farmer unions were offered to have a clause by clause discussion on all three Acts to address their apprehensions.
With agitating farmer unions criticising his use of 'andolanjivi' during his speech in Rajya Sabha on Monday, the Prime Minister sought to make a distinction between 'andolankari' (agitators) and 'andolanjivi', a barb for people who jump from one protest to another.
Noting that his government and the House respect the farmers protesting the newly enacted laws, he said this is the reason why top Union ministers have been talking to them.
"I consider the Kisan Andolan to be 'pavitra' (sacred). But when 'andolanjivis' hijack sacred protests, showcase photos of those jailed for serious offences like terrorism, does it serve any purpose? Not allowing toll plazas to work, destroying telecom towers in Punjab, does it serve a 'pavitra andolan' (sacred agitation)," Modi said.
"The sacred agitation of these farmers is ruined by 'andolanjivis' and not 'andolankaris'. So, it is necessary for the nation to differentiate between 'andolanjivi' and 'andolankari'," he said.
He also made a fresh appeal to the agitating farmers to come to the table for talks before concluding his speech.
Hitting out at the protesting Congress members, he said those who are disrupting the House are doing so as per a "well-planned strategy" as they are unable to digest that people are seeing through the truth.
"Through their games, the trust of people can never be won," he said, amidst protests by the Opposition members.
As Modi explained his government's stand on the farm laws, Congress walked out of the House in the middle of his speech.
Taking on the critics of the farm laws, he said they have been fuelling fear among farmers that it will lead to the weakening of the mandi system and MSP mechanism.
"After the laws were passed by Parliament, no mandi was shut. In fact more allocation has been made in the budget to modernise the farm mandis and boost the infrastructure. Likewise, MSP has remained. Procurement on MSP has remained. These facts can't be ignored," he said.
This government believes in progressive policies and not regressive ones, he said.
Taking a dig at Opposition leaders, he said there are people who talk about the right things but object when right things are done. They fail to convert words into action, he added.
Emphasising that his government has been working to empower farmers, he said: "Our farmer should become self-reliant and he should get the freedom to sell his produce. There is a need to work in that direction."
Noting that the kind of investment farming needed was not happening, Modi said there is a need to bring in investments and modernise the agriculture sector.
Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi said India has managed the crisis successfully despite adverse predictions, and asserted that the country has now become a ray of hope for the world.
Modi said a new world order will emerge post-COVID and that it will be counterproductive for India to remain isolated. "That is why, India is working towards building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which seeks to further global good," he said.