Reforms are needed for development, says Modi; farm laws must go, insist farmers ahead of Bharat Bandh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that reforms are needed for development, and said some laws of the past century have become a "burden" in the current times. The government believes in all-round holistic reforms, he stressed after inaugurating the construction of the Agra Metro project via video conferencing on Monday, NDTV reported.

"Reforms are needed for development. Some laws which used to be good in the past century, have become a burden in the present century," he said, adding "Our government is doing holistic reforms. Earlier reforms used to happen in a piecemeal manner."

His remarks came in the backdrop of ongoing protests by farmers against three new farm laws.

Meanwhile, ahead of Tuesday’s Bharat Bandh, protesting farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border have appealed for peace. “A complete bandh will be observed from 11 am to 3 pm. Emergency services will be allowed during the bandh, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told reporters, reiterating that the farmers will not accept anything less than the withdrawal of the three new farm laws by the Centre.

“It is a symbolic protest. We will begin at 11 am so everyone can reach office on time... Services such as ambulance, even weddings, can go on," Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was quoted as saying.

Members of farmers' unions will block national highways and occupy toll plazas, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union had said earlier.

In Delhi, fruits and vegetables could be in short supply. "Most of our traders are supporting the Bharat Bandh call. Hence, mandis at Ghazipur, Okhla and Narela will be heavily impacted," Adil Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Azadpur Mandi was quoted as saying.

Commuters in Delhi may face problems as some cab and taxi unions, including those associated with app-based aggregators, have decided to back the shutdown.

Supply truck movement could be hit in many states as all motor transport unions of India have come out in farmers' support.