India, Sept. 21 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the farm bills at the centre of a huge controversy are "historic and necessary" if the country needs to go forward in the 21st Century. Eight opposition members were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the session over unprecedented chaos in the house during the passing of controversial farm bills on Sunday, but they refused to leave. The members, including Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Sanjay singh, Congress's Rajeev Satav and CPM's KK Ragesh, were told they had displayed "unruly behavior especially with the Chair and gross disorderly conduct".

The government hopes competitive markets and higher private investments in the food supply chain will...