NEW DELHI: While the government has been holding talks with agitating farm unions, BJP has launched a parallel campaign to share with the people advantages of the new farm laws and how they will benefit farmers across the country.
The party has got a comprehensive booklet — “Putting Farmers First” — printed in different languages, which speaks about how the three laws have been enacted with an aim to double the farmers’ income, a promise BJP had made in its manifesto. Besides the draft of the three farm laws, the booklet has several chapters, including “What Will Not Happen” and “What Will Happen”, explaining how it will help farmers’ income without risking their land-holdings.
PM Modi has repeatedly tried to allay apprehensions regarding the three laws, saying his government is committed to the farmers. A group of 78 former civil servants had in December written an open letter against the three laws, claiming that the Centre acted against constitutional provisions in enacting the laws. “I called on one of the retired civil servants Suresh Kumar Goyal. We had a comprehensive discussion on the subject as he admitted that he had not read the laws fully. I handed over a copy of the Act,” said Kuljeet Singh Chahal, general secretary, BJP Delhi.
Rajya Sabha MP and party general secretary Arun Singh said, “Those saying laws were brought in haste should correct themselves. Several rounds of consultations were organized about the three laws and even previous governments had tried to bring these changes.”