PM must shed crony capitalists, repeal farm laws and apologise to farmers: Congress

Farmers have understood that this govt is subservient to a handful of crony capitalists and wants to sell off the Rs 25 lakh crore agri-commodities trade to 4 or 5 people, it said

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala (PTI)
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala (PTI)
user

NH Web Desk

The Congress on Monday called upon PM Narendra Modi to ‘shed the crony capitalists for whom he has enacted the three farm laws’, repeal the laws and apologise to the 62 crore farmers of the country.

“Today even the Supreme Court expressed its anguish and its disappointment over repeated failure of talks and on failure of the government in being able to find a solution. Never in the 73 years history of this country has a government like the current one led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi been exposed in this fashion for its arrogance, for its intemperate behavior and for its insensitivity towards 62 crore of India’s farmers,” the party’s chief spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala said while addressing a press conference.

“Mr. Prime Minister, the only thing that is acceptable to the farmers and to agitating farmers and India’s farmers, is immediate repeal of the three black laws, nothing short of it is acceptable to India’s farmers and nothing short of it will prevail. So, we call upon the Prime Minister to come forward, to shed the crony capitalists for whom he has enacted these three black laws and to stand with India’s farmers to understand their anguish and suffering and to immediately announce repeal of the three black laws,” he added.

“Prime Minister Modi and BJP government are snatching away the lives and livelihoods of the farmers. That’s why we say constantly, it is neither a legalistic issue, nor a constitutional issue. The issue is even bigger than that and that is the issue of survival of the farming sector per se and the lives and livelihoods of the farmers,” Surjewala said.

“On the ground, farmers have understood that this government is subservient to the handful of crony capitalists and wants to sell off the Rs 25 lakh crore agri-commodities trade to 4 or 5 people, so that then they can dupe and deceive all 130 crore people of this country at their whims and fancy,” he added.

Here are the highlights of Surjewala’s comments in the press conference:

India’s farmers, 62 crore Annadatas have been agitating now for last 3 months, for over 46 days. Farmers after notifying in a Gandhian manner to come to Delhi, to lodge their protest against the three anti agriculture black laws, have been sitting on Delhi’s borders. The BJP Government led by Shri Manohar Lal Khattar and Shri Adityanath at the instance of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah dug up the national highway, lathi charged and used water cannon at the farmers. They have been braving extreme weather, cold weather. They have been braving incessant rain as also hail storms. 65 farmers have sacrificed their lives.

Today even the Supreme Court expressed its anguish and its disappointment over repeated failure of talks and on failure of the Government in being able to find a solution. Never in the 73 years history of this country has a Government like the current one led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi been exposed in this fashion for its arrogance, for its intemperate behavior and for its insensitivity towards 62 crore of India’s farmers.

Mr. Prime Minister, the only thing that is acceptable to the farmers and to agitating farmers and India’s farmers, is immediate repeal of the three black laws, nothing short of it is acceptable to India’s farmers and nothing short of it will prevail. So, we call upon the Prime Minister to come forward, to shed the crony capitalists for whom he has enacted these three black laws and to stand with India’s farmers to understand their anguish and suffering and to immediately announce repeal of the three black laws.

Prime Minister should apologize not only to the families of 65 farmers who have sacrificed themselves, but, to 62 crore Annadatas of India and Prime Minister should thereafter speak to the farmers himself, nothing short of it is acceptable to India’s Annadatas.

On a question that why do you feel that this fight cannot be sorted out in the Supreme Court and why should the Supreme Court not constitute a committee, Surjewala said: In our democracy, executive is supreme in terms of framing of laws and the Hon’ble High Courts and the Supreme Court are supreme in interpretation and looking at the validity of the laws.

First, the Supreme Court has not ordered constitution of any committee so far, so why should I comment upon an order that has not been passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court as yet.

Secondly, is there a committee higher than the high powered committee constituted by the Government of the Minister’s committee? They have already spoken in 8 rounds to the farmers, but, the attitude of the Government is that they will not repeal the black laws. This is not a legal issue; this is not a legalistic issue at all. This is a fight for lives and livelihood. This is a fight for survival of 62 crore farmers. It is not a legal issue.

We respect the Hon’ble Supreme Court and its concern for the welfare of the farmers that it has expressed, but, ultimately repeal of the laws and the discretion to repeal the laws, which an autocratic Prime Minister and his Government have made in order to help his crony capitalist friends lies at the doorstep of the Government and not the Supreme Court.

On another question that the BJP which is having 700 press conferences, 700 Chaupals, mega rallies by the Chief Ministers in its process to outreach farmers and explain them good clauses in these laws, Surjewala said: The fraudulent acts of BJP and its leaders attempting to dupe and deceive India’s farmers will not work. India’s 62 crore farmers, irrespective of region, religion, caste or creed have come together to fight for their survival. It is not a Congress Vs BJP fight. It is not a Press Conference oriented fight, it is a livelihood fight.

Prime Minister Modi and BJP Government are snatching away the lives and livelihoods of the farmers. That’s why we say constantly, it is neither a legalistic issue, nor a constitutional issue. The issue is even bigger than that and that is the issue of survival of the farming sector per se and the lives and livelihoods of the farmers and these fraudulent press conferences in order to dupe and deceive and to create an atmosphere through media will not work at all.

For on the ground, farmer has understood that this Government is subservient to the handful of crony capitalists and wants to sell off the 25 lakh crore agri-commodities trade to 4 or 5 people, so that then they can dupe and deceive all 130 crore people of this country at their whims and fancy.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram 

Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines