PM <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-launches-key-projects-in-assam-promotes-using-local-language-for-studies-361944">Modi</a> while replying in Rajya Sabha to the motion of thanks on the President's address asserted that the country had emerged as the "pharmacy of the world during the pandemic". &nbsp;

"We are proud that the vaccination movement is taking place in our country. We have provided medicines to 150 countries," PM Modi told India's upper house of Parliament.

The world had apprehensions about how India would handle pandemic,&nbsp;lakhs would die they had apprehended, the PM said, adding,"India is truly a land of opportunities, the country cannot let go opportunities that have come during challenging times."

Today the world appreciates India's efforts in saving humanity and the credit goes to India and we should be proud of it, the PM said. The prime minister said India had emerged as the "pharmacy of world during the pandemic".

"India has seen days when there was a large threat of polio, smallpox. Nobody knew whether India will get a vaccine or how many people will get it. From those days, we are now here, when our nation is making vaccines for the world. This increases our self-confidence," the Indian prime minister said.&nbsp;

"Criticism is fine but don't indulge in acts that can break the confidence of the country; corona warriors should be respected."

PM Modi stated that President Kovind's address to the joint sitting of Parliament was of hope and a &nbsp;"way forward during in these challenging times".

"Our democracy is not a western institution, it is made of human institutions. India is the 'mother of democracy' and this is our ethos," he said.

"India's history is filled with examples of democratic institutions. We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India. Today it's essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India's nationalism," PM Modi said.

"India's nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive. This is inspired by the values of 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' which was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose," he said.&nbsp;

"Manmohanji is here, I'd read out his quote: Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. "There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get highest rate of return," PM Modi said.

"Sharad Pawar&nbsp;and those from Congress, all governments have stood for agricultural reforms. Whether they were able to do it or not, but everyone has advocated that it should be done," he said.

"MSP tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega,"&nbsp;the PM reiterated that the minimum support price(MSP) will remain and so will PDS.

PM Modi said that Rs 1.15 lakh crore has been paid into the account of farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. The Indian prime minister said Rs 90,000 crore of claims was cleared under crop insurance which is a bigger amount than the loan waiver.

"Despite record production, there are problems in the agriculture sector, solutions have to be found together," the PM said.

The PM said give agricultural reforms a chance, it is open to changes.

PM Modi while replying in Rajya Sabha to the motion of thanks on the President's address asserted that the country had emerged as the "pharmacy of the world during the pandemic".

PM Modi while replying in Rajya Sabha to the motion of thanks on the President's address asserted that the country had emerged as the "pharmacy of the world during the pandemic". "We are proud that the vaccination movement is taking place in our country. We have provided medicines to 150 countries," PM Modi told India's upper house of Parliament. The world had apprehensions about how India would handle pandemic, lakhs would die they had apprehended, the PM said, adding,"India is truly a land of opportunities, the country cannot let go opportunities that have come during challenging times." Today the world appreciates India's efforts in saving humanity and the credit goes to India and we should be proud of it, the PM said. The prime minister said India had emerged as the "pharmacy of world during the pandemic". "India has seen days when there was a large threat of polio, smallpox. Nobody knew whether India will get a vaccine or how many people will get it. From those days, we are now here, when our nation is making vaccines for the world. This increases our self-confidence," the Indian prime minister said. "Criticism is fine but don't indulge in acts that can break the confidence of the country; corona warriors should be respected." PM Modi stated that President Kovind's address to the joint sitting of Parliament was of hope and a "way forward during in these challenging times". "Our democracy is not a western institution, it is made of human institutions. India is the 'mother of democracy' and this is our ethos," he said. "India's history is filled with examples of democratic institutions. We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India. Today it's essential to warn citizens about the attacks on India's nationalism," PM Modi said. "India's nationalism is neither narrow now selfish and not even aggressive. This is inspired by the values of 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' which was given by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose," he said. "Manmohanji is here, I'd read out his quote: Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. "There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get highest rate of return," PM Modi said. "Sharad Pawar and those from Congress, all governments have stood for agricultural reforms. Whether they were able to do it or not, but everyone has advocated that it should be done," he said. "MSP tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega," the PM reiterated that the minimum support price(MSP) will remain and so will PDS. PM Modi said that Rs 1.15 lakh crore has been paid into the account of farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. The Indian prime minister said Rs 90,000 crore of claims was cleared under crop insurance which is a bigger amount than the loan waiver. "Despite record production, there are problems in the agriculture sector, solutions have to be found together," the PM said. The PM said give agricultural reforms a chance, it is open to changes.

Give agricultural reforms a chance; MSP will remain, says PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

Maharashtra on Thursday reported 27 deaths and 583 new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/enhanced-our-position-as-pharmacy-of-the-world-mea-on-sending-medicines-globally-295892">coronavirus </a>cases taking the total number of cases to 10,498 in the state.

In Delhi, six more CRPF jawans tested positive for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-reports-22-new-covid-19-cases-in-24-hours-pune-records-127-new-cases-295818">coronavirus</a>, one soldier belonged to the national kabaddi team, the CRPF said.

The virus cases continued to rise as Telangana reported 22 new cases with the total number of cases rising to 1038 in the last 24 hours.

Ludhiana in Punjab also witnessed a spurt in cases with 34 people testing positive for&nbsp;coronavirus out of which 23 were pilgrims who had returned from Nanded.

Ranchi in Jharkhand reported three new cases with the total number of COVID-19 cases rising to 110, the state government said.

Meanwhile, officials in Pune said migrant labourers and students stranded in the area will be allowed to travel to their homes, according to the home ministry's order.

The move comes after several state governments requested the home ministry to allow stranded migrants and students to return their places. The home ministry had earlier said it was contemplating running special trains to transport the people stranded in various states.

Maharashtra on Thursday reported 27 deaths and 583 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases to 10,498 in the state. In Delhi, six more CRPF jawans tested positive for coronavirus, one soldier belonged to the national kabaddi team, the CRPF said.

Maharashtra on Thursday reported 27 deaths and 583 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of cases to 10,498 in the state. In Delhi, six more CRPF jawans tested positive for coronavirus, one soldier belonged to the national kabaddi team, the CRPF said. The virus cases continued to rise as Telangana reported 22 new cases with the total number of cases rising to 1038 in the last 24 hours. Ludhiana in Punjab also witnessed a spurt in cases with 34 people testing positive for coronavirus out of which 23 were pilgrims who had returned from Nanded. Ranchi in Jharkhand reported three new cases with the total number of COVID-19 cases rising to 110, the state government said. Meanwhile, officials in Pune said migrant labourers and students stranded in the area will be allowed to travel to their homes, according to the home ministry's order. The move comes after several state governments requested the home ministry to allow stranded migrants and students to return their places. The home ministry had earlier said it was contemplating running special trains to transport the people stranded in various states.

Maharashtra reports 27 COVID-19 deaths; 6 CRPF soldiers test positive in Delhi

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi wrote to PM Modi to suggest ways to ensure food security for people affected by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-stare-at-bleak-future-amid-nationwide-coronavirus-lockdown-292166">lockdown</a> due to coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-extends-lockdown-till-april-30-as-government-identifies-146-hotspots-in-india-292256">Also Read: Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till April 30</a>

In the letter, Sonia Gandhi lauded the prime minister's decision to provide free of cost food grains, 5kg in addition to entitlement under the National Food Security Act(NFSA)&nbsp;from April to June.

The Congress president suggested that the provision of 10kg grains to NFSA beneficiaries should be extended for an additional period of three months, till September.

"Given the chronic economic distress faced by these beneficiaries the food entitlements may be provided free of cost," Sonia Gandhi said in the letter.

Gandhi also suggested that 10 kg grains may be provided free of cost for a period of six months to those who may be facing food insecurity but not holding ration cards.

Sonai Gandhi raised the issue of migrant workers without NFSA cards and "many deserving people who have been excluded from the NFSA lists".

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi wrote to PM Modi to suggest ways to ensure food security for people affected by the lockdown due to coronavirus. Also Read: Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till April 30 In the letter, Sonia Gandhi lauded the prime minister's decision to provide free of cost food grains, 5kg in addition to entitlement under the National Food Security Act(NFSA) from April to June.

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi wrote to PM Modi to suggest ways to ensure food security for people affected by the lockdown due to coronavirus. Also Read: Tamil Nadu extends lockdown till April 30 In the letter, Sonia Gandhi lauded the prime minister's decision to provide free of cost food grains, 5kg in addition to entitlement under the National Food Security Act(NFSA) from April to June. The Congress president suggested that the provision of 10kg grains to NFSA beneficiaries should be extended for an additional period of three months, till September. "Given the chronic economic distress faced by these beneficiaries the food entitlements may be provided free of cost," Sonia Gandhi said in the letter. Gandhi also suggested that 10 kg grains may be provided free of cost for a period of six months to those who may be facing food insecurity but not holding ration cards. Sonai Gandhi raised the issue of migrant workers without NFSA cards and "many deserving people who have been excluded from the NFSA lists".

Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi on COVID-19; raises issue of migrant workers

On March 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the coronavirus crisis. PM has called for a "Janata curfew" on March 22, saying all citizens must stay home from 7 am to 9 pm to try and check the spread of the deadly virus. The Prime Minister also cautioned citizens against hoarding and panic-buying, assuring that the supply of essentials like milk, medicines, and food would be preserved.

Prime Minister Modi on India's Battle with COVID-19: Janta Curfew on March 22