Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 8 defended his government's policies on farmers as he spoke on the massive protests since November against three laws. He quoted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, commenting that "at least they will listen to him if not me" on reforms. He also urged farmers to call off their agitation, renewing an offer of talks to resolve their concerns. Highlighting various schemes of his government for marginal farmers, the Prime Minister said every government had spoken for the reforms in agriculture sector but various parties had taken a "u-turn".
PM Modi also said that India had fought an unknown enemy in the form of the coronavirus to save its citizens and the credit for winning the fight did not go to any government or individual, but the entire country. Playing on the term "foreign direct investment or FDI", PM Modi said the country needs to be cautioned against deleterious influences from abroad that he referred to as "foreign destructive ideology". He used the term in the context of the ongoing farmers' agitation that has, of late, received support from several global celebrities such as pop artiste Rihanna and climate activist Great Thunberg.