'MSP Is Going Nowhere' To 'Beware Of Andolan Jeevis': Five Things Prime Minister Modi Said About The Farm Protests In Rajya Sabha

1. MSP Tha, Hai, Aur Rahega

Agriculture and agricultural reforms were bound to feature in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech. And they did.

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).

The MSP is the price at which the government procures certain crops from the farmers, mainly wheat and rice.

The Centre's MSP procurement is focussed disproportionately on Punjab. In the wake of the agricultural reforms, it was alleged that the Centre is planning to eventually junk the MSP system leading to unrest among a section of the farmers in the state.

It was to dispel any such notions that the Prime Minister repeated the assurance of his government that the MSP is not going anywhere.

2. Precious Are The Words And Blessings Of The Guru Sahibs

The Prime Minister emphasised in the Rajya Sabha that India is proud of the contribution of Sikhs.

He stated that the words and blessings of the Guru Sahibs of Sikhism are precious.

This comment becomes relevant at a time when the farmers' protest is seeing overt and covert participation by pro-Khalistani elements.

3. Beware Of The Andolan Jeevi

Prime Minister Modi described the perennial agitators in India as ‘Andolan Jeevi'. "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.

He also said that the Rajya Sabha members would sympathise with his observation since every state government in India has to deal with its share of 'Andolan Jeevis'.

4. We Don't Want The Other FDI: Foreign Destructive Ideology

Perhaps 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 he expanded as '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.

5. Modi Is Doing What Manmohan Singh Promised

Exposing the hypocrisy of the opposition over the agricultural reforms, Prime Minister Modi quoted verbatim from a speech of former prime minister Manmohan Singh where Dr Singh passionately argued for a common market for farmers to sell their produce and to remove any handicaps that they may face.

The Prime Minister added in jest that the Congress should be happy that what was promised by them is being executed by him.