Small and marginal farmers benefit most from agricultural reforms: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said amid the farmers' movement that small and marginal farmers will benefit the most from agricultural reforms.

On the birth anniversary of Jana Sangh ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, PM Modi spoke to the party workers through video conferencing.

He said, "85 out of 100 farmers fall under the category of small and marginal farmers. They will benefit the most from agricultural reforms. For the first time, they have got the option of price on their produce. Traditionally, the product is sold in mandis, but now farmers can sell it outside as well.

Modi said, "The farmers were kept entangled in such laws, due to which they could not even sell their products according to their mind. As a result, despite the increase in yield, the income of the farmers did not increase that much. Yes, the debt increased on them.

PM Modi appealed to all the workers to reach out to the farmers at the grassroots level and explain to them in easy language the importance of new agricultural reforms and how it will empower them.

The Prime Minister said, "Our ground contact will end all lies and rumors being spread in the virtual world."

He targeted the UPA government and said that the old governments used to make tangled promises and make laws which farmers or workers never understood. Despite the increase in yield, the income of the farmers did not increase and the debt on them kept increasing. However, the BJP-led NDA has continuously tried to change this situation.

He told that in the last few years, NDA has tried its best to connect farmers with banks. Under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, one lakh crore rupees were transferred to the accounts of about 10 crore farmers.

PM Modi said about Pandit Deendayal, "I am not so lucky to see Deendayal Upadhyay Ji but, his path and his thoughts give us inspiration and energy."

At the same time, against the agricultural bills passed by both the houses of parliament, today farmers' organizations are jamming all over the country. The government has claimed that these bills are farmer-friendly and that the income of farmers will increase from these and the market will be open for their products.

However, farmer organizations say that these bills are part of efforts to hand over the agricultural sector to the corporate.

The most widespread demonstrations against these bills are taking place in Punjab and Haryana.

Following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Narcotics Control Bureau, which is investigating the so-called Bollywood-drugs nexus, has sent summons to several Bollywood actors for questioning.

The NCB has summoned Karisma Prakash, manager of actresses Rakul Preet Singh and Deepika Padukone, for questioning today.

Rakul Preet Singh was supposed to appear before the NCB on September 24, but he came to know about not getting a summons. The NCB tried to contact him when Rakul Preet did not come for questioning.

After this, the NCB informed that Rakul Preet Singh has accepted the summons and updated his address.

Karishma Prakash had asked for a one-day deferment from NCB due to ill health. Therefore, he has been called for questioning by giving one day's exemption.

Deepika Padukone was also set to be questioned on Friday, but now she will be questioned on 26 September. She has reached Mumbai with her husband Ranbir Singh for this.

Apart from Deepika, on Saturday, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor have also been called for questioning.

Earlier on September 8, the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested Riya Chakraborty in a drug case. Riya's brother Shovik Chakraborty has also been questioned in this regard.

In the NCB investigation, the names of many Bollywood stars have been revealed so far in the case of buying drugs.