As the ongoing farmers' protest entered the 83rd day on Tuesday against the three contentious farm laws enacted last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified that these laws will mostly benefit small and marginal farmers. Modi said the government's aim is to make each citizen prosper and make India 'Aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant).

Modi said that some people have been spreading rumours against these laws against which thousands of farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana have been sitting on indefinite protest on various Delhi's borders.

Addressing people through video conferencing after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating projects at Maharaja Suheldev Memorial in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich, Modi said that a false narrative is being spread among people against these laws for political benefits.

"The new agriculture reforms will benefit small and marginal farmers the most. Some people are propagating rumours against these reforms," he said.

In an obvious dig at the opposition Congress, Modi said "those who used to invite foreign firms in India are now protesting against the government which is trying to give opportunity to Indian private companies".

He said that the farmers themselves have unmasked those politicians who have been spreading rumours against these laws since they were enacted in  Parliament in September last year.

(IANS)