President nod to farm Bills as protests rage in region

New Delhi, September 27

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave assent to three contentious farm Bills that have triggered protests by farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana.

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According to a gazette notification, the President gave assent to the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Meanwhile, underscoring the tremendous contribution of the agriculture sector and farmers in playing a major role in making the country “atmanirbhar”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated the recent reforms would liberate them from restrictions prevalent in the sector. “Even in this time of crisis, the agriculture sector of the country, our farmers, our villages are the very basis of Atmanirbhar Bharat, a self-reliant India. If they remain strong, the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat will remain strong,” PM Modi said in his monthly “Mann Ki Baat” radio talk.

Modi said if the essence of Mahatma Gandhi’s economic philosophy had been followed, there would not have been any need for the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign as the country would have become self-reliant much earlier. — TNS