FILE PHOTO

By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 19, 2021: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that the three controversial farm laws will be withdrawn.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will continue to stand with the farmers, Patnaik said.

“Welcome Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji’s (Narendra Modi) decision to repeal all 3 #FarmL was, in the best interest of the country and its farmers. Your farms and families have been waiting for long and they will be happy to welcome you back. @bjdodisha continues to stand with the farmers,” he tweeted.

The BJD had earlier stated that the interest of small and marginal farmers was ignored in the three measures.

This apart, the BJD has been demanding minimum support price (MSP) for crops as per the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission.

Modi announced that the government has decided to repeal the three farm laws, which were at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year, and appealed to the protesting farmers to return home.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh, had been protesting since November 2020 against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, and a new law to guarantee MSP for crops.