Agitating farmers hold a dharna near the Ghazipur-New Delhi border on Saturday. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 12

Even as PM Narendra Modi virtually ruled out a rethink on the three farm laws, maintaining that these were part of an inter-linked chain of reforms aimed at removing the walls that inhibited the growth of different sectors of economy, farmers’ leaders on Saturday announced to step up the protest against the farm laws with all 32 union leaders going on fast at the Singhu border on December 14.

“We saw walls dividing the agriculture sector with its associated segments such as agri infrastructure, food processing, storage and cold chains. After these walls are dismantled, the reforms will open up new markets for farmers, give them new options and enable them to benefit from the use of technology. These will lead to more investment and the prime beneficiary will be the farmer who lives off small patches of land,’’ said the PM while delivering the inaugural address at FICCI’s 93rd annual general meeting.

“Our economy does not need walls between different sectors but more and more bridges so that they can support each other,” he stressed. Indicating that the government was firm in its reform plans, the PM observed: “The confident do not hesitate. It’s the weak who are insecure and do not give opportunities to those around them... Governments that are decisive remove obstacles,” adding that the government’s policies were conducive to developing the village-based economy.

Informing the industrialists about other allied opportunities opening up in villages and in tier II and tier III cities, the PM said: “You should not lose out on the opportunity to invest in villages and small cities. Your investments will open new doors for our brothers and sisters in rural areas and the agriculture sector.”

The PM referred to the latest indicators about the economy to assert that the situation had changed for the better because the government had prioritised the saving of lives over trade and commerce.

Stepping up protest

Farmers picket Ambala-Hisar, Karnal-Jind toll plazas
Call to women to reach Singhu in large numbers
Hundreds on tractor-trailers arrive at Singhu-Delhi border
Farmers from Rajasthan to block Jaipur-Delhi highway
Indefinite fast by Charuni from Dec 19 (Martyrdom Day)

Dushyant: solution soon

Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, who met Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, NS Tomar and Piyush Goyal, said he was hopeful the impasse would end in 24- 48 hrs with a fresh round of talks in a day or two. TNS