BJP to counter farmers protest with "information campaign"

New Delhi: A high-level meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders convened here at the party headquarters on Thursday, has resolved to counter the ongoing farmers' protest through "an information campaign".

It was decided that a campaign should be run to counter the "disinformation" being spread on the farm laws by the opposition parties and some organisations.

It is worth recalling that the Central ministers and the BJP leaders have accused the protest of led by "tukde-tukde gang," "infiltrated by naxals," and "misused by anti-social elements."

BJP's campaign organs have also echoed their leaders and accused the protest as "politically instigated traitors" and "foreign funded".

In the campaign, party workers and leaders will explain the benefits of the farm laws to the farmers. When farmers are told the reality about the farm laws, their misconceptions will be addressed.

The meeting started at 3.30 p.m. in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, other top leaders and party office bearers.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar shared the issues raised by the farmers' organisations during the five rounds of talks held with the government, various aspects of farmers' protest and the challenges posed by the some farmers' organisation in resolving the issues.

Sources told IANS, "The party will consider the amendments suggested by the farmers' organisations but the laws will not be repealed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants that an information campaign be initiated to give detailed information about the farm laws to the farmers as well as general public."

It was also discussed in the meeting that some farmers' organisations have supported the laws and if they are given right information about the laws more organisations will support them.

A senior BJP leader said, "Many farmers' organisation have welcomed the new agricultural reforms. The party feels that misinformation about the laws should be countered strongly. We will reach out to the farmers and inform them that the purchase on MSP has increased. Procurement centres have been increased. For the last six years, we have sent double the amount in the accounts of farmers through MSP. Rs 6,000 per year is also been given under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. An agricultural infrastructure fund of Rs 1 lakh crore has also been created."

The protesting farmers, braving harsh climate and adverse conditions, are on the streets for last twenty two days.

(Based on IANS feed)