Modi says ‘minimum support price’ to remain; renews offer for talks with protesting farmers

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made a fervent appeal to protesting farmers to end their agitation against the three new farm laws, renewing an offer of talks to resolve their concerns.

"We are ready for talks and I am inviting you from this House. Minimum support price was there, is there now and will remain. No one should spread misinformation," Modi said in the Rajya Sabha, upper House of the Indian Parliament, in his reply to a debate on the President's Budget session speech, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Modi hit out at those behind the protests, saying a new "breed" of agitators has emerged in the country who cannot live without an agitation and the country should be beware of them.

Terming the new "breed" as FDI (foreign destructive ideology), he said "we need to be more aware to save the country from such ideology".

The PM also stressed that India is very proud of the contribution of Sikhs. He alleged some people are also trying to defame Sikhs.

Most of the farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi for more than two months are mainly from Punjab, where Sikhs are in majority, and adjacent Haryana.

Reaching out to Sikhs, Modi said "this is a community that has done so much for the nation. The country takes pride in the contribution of Sikhs, but some people are trying to defame them….The language used by some for them will not benefit the country," he said, replying to the motion of thanks on the President's address.

Referring to the farm sector and the farmers' protest, Modi said, "Minimum support price (for crops) was there. MSP is there. MSP will remain in the future. Affordable ration for the poor will continue."