Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the passing of the farm reform Bills by Parliament as “historic” and said it would provide “new opportunities” to farmers to sell their produce on higher prices and “free farmers from middlemen”.

Soon after Rajya Sabha passed the two key farm Bills aimed at giving ‘marketing freedom to farmers’, the Prime Minister assured the farmers that Minimum support Price (MSP) and Government procurement of their produce would continue.

The Bill has been described by Opposition and even RSS-affiliated Bhartiya Kisan Sangh as “tilted in favour of the corporates” and against small and marginal farmers.

The BKS had demanded that bills must be sent to the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture for wider consultations and suitable amendments.

Those opposing the ‘reform bills’ apprehend that with the marketing reforms, government may do away with the MSP and in the new contract system leave around 87 per cent small farmers to a lesser fate vis-à-vis the farmers with big land hoardings.

The Government did not concede the demand and ‘successfully pushed’ the bills in the upper house after having passed it in the Lok Sabha.

“The passing of historic agrarian reform bills in the Lok Sabha is an important moment for the countryRs s farmers and the agricultural sector. These bills will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles,” Modi tweeted.

Asserting that it would open a new window for the farmers, Modi said it would empower farmers.

“This agrarian reform will provide new opportunities for farmers to sell their produce, which will increase their profits. With this, our agriculture sector will get the benefit of modern technology, whereas the farmers will be empowered,” he said.

“I assure my farmer brothers and sisters that the system of MSP and Government procurement will remain. These bills are really going to empower the farmers by giving them many more options,” the PM said in his tweets.

“I request the farmers and all those associated with the agriculture sector to listen to the speech given by the Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, during the discussion on the agricultural reform bills in the Lok Sabha,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who had navigated the bills in both the houses, said the day has opened new vista for agriculture community and charged opposition with “politicising” the issue.

Tomar said that despite recommendations of various commissions & experts, Congress never did justice to farmers who found themselves helpless for years. He added, ‘’Today, when Congress realised they don’t have support in Rajya Sabha, they resorted to ‘gundagardi’.’’

BJP President J P Nadda said that the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister has “liberated the farmers from injustice” they were facing for the last 70 years.

Nadda also called the opposition irresponsible for their behaviour in Rajya Sabha while the bill was tabled.

‘’The irresponsible act of opposition is unfortunate. They violated the protocols, Chairman will take note of it and take action.

The democratic system should function smoothly, we’ll request Chairman to take steps for the same,’’ said Nadda who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Defence Minister Rajath Singh  lauded the bill and congratulated Agriculture Minister for explaining all aspects of the Bills with clarity and conviction in both the Houses of Parliament.

Taking to Twitter, Rajnath, also a former agriculture minister, said, ‘’With the passing of two landmark agriculture Bills in Rajya Sabha today, India has cemented the strong foundation for ‘Atmanirbhar Agriculture’. This is the result of endless dedication and determination of the Govt under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi,’’ he sought to say.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed in Rajya Sabha on Sunday (September 20) by voice vote despite stiff protest by Opposition lawmakers.

The bills were cleared amid mayhem in Rajya Sabha with several MPs taking to the well of the House and raising anti-government slogans.

Earlier, during a discussion on the farm bills, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, an ally of the BJP, announced in Lok Sabha that his party  opposes the bills.

The lone SAD minster in the Modi-Government Harshimrat Kaur has resigned.