Farmers are standing firm on Shambhu and Khanauri border.
The farmers are adamant on going to Delhi and the police are somehow trying to stop them by putting up barricades.
Meanwhile, late on Wednesday night, the government made a big announcement in the media briefing for the welfare of farmers.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the government has increased the price of sugarcane purchase by 8 percent to provide benefits to the farmers. Due to this, the price of sugarcane has increased by Rs 25 per quintal.
Earlier in the day, farmers tried to break the barricades while protesting violently. In this he also had a heated clash with the police. The police fired rubber bullets and released tear gas shells.
One farmer died and 25 others were injured in this incident. 12 police personnel were also seriously injured in this clash. After this, the farmers put a break on Delhi’s plan for two days and set time till Friday for further strategy.
Meanwhile, Modi government took an important decision regarding farmers in the cabinet briefing. Briefing the press after the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the Modi government has always kept the interests of farmers paramount. Every time the government took all possible steps to fulfill the demands of the farmers.
He said that the price of sugarcane purchase has been increased by eight percent. The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price’ (FRP) of sugarcane payable by sugar mills for the sugar season 2024-25 (October-September).
FRP of sugarcane has been increased from Rs 315 per quintal to Rs 340 per quintal. That means the price of sugarcane has increased by Rs 25 per quintal.
In the last ten years, many works were done for the welfare of farmers.
Anurag Thakur said that in the last 10 years, the Modi government has done everything possible for the development of farmers. There were farmers’ movements even before 2014, but during the Modi government, farmers did not have to wait long for their demands. Our government has ensured that farmers get the right price for their crops at the right time.
Right price at right time for farmers under Modi government
Anurag Thakur said that 99.5% of the cane dues of the last sugar season 2022-23 and 99.9% of all other sugar seasons have already been paid to the farmers.
This is the lowest pending cane arrears in the history of the sugar sector. With timely policy intervention by the government, sugar mills have become self-reliant and no financial assistance is being provided to them by the government from 2021-22 onwards. Nevertheless, the Central Government has ensured ‘assured FRP and assured procurement’ of sugarcane for the farmers.
Amendment in FDI policy in space sector approved
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved amendments to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the space sector. Anurag Thakur said that the FDI policy has been amended to realize the vision of self-reliant India.
Now, the space sector has been liberalized for FDI in specified sub-sectors/activities. Improvement in FDI policy will increase ease. Doing business in the country will increase FDI and thus increase investment, income and employment.