Opposition asks govt to shed its ‘arrogance’ over farm laws; says they are not ‘religious scriptures’

Opposition members on Tuesday asked the government in Lok Sabha to shed its "arrogance" over the three farm laws even as BJP MPs hailed the Centre for its welfare and pro-farmer measures.

Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President's address, Preneet Kaur of the Congress dubbed the three Acts, which have triggered protests, as black laws and asked the government to repeal them.

She referred to "Khalistani" and "Maoists" barbs used by some people against a section of protesting farmers and said this was wrong while adding that a brother of a protester was a soldier who had laid down his life in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese soldiers in Ladakh.

"This government is a real threat to our democracy not farmers," she said, asking the government to shed its arrogance.

TMC's Saugata Roy alleged that several Union ministers are doing "political tourism" in West Bengal.

In an apparent reference to the upcoming state assembly polls, he said it was a battle between "Bengali and outsiders" and said the state cannot be ruled from Gujarat.

He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 'aandolan-jivi' jibe and said the BJP's ideological forebears never went to jail during the freedom struggle. Roy also demanded repeal of the farm laws.

National Conference member Farooq Abdullah said the new farm laws are not religious scriptures that changes cannot be made as he appealed to the Centre to hold a dialogue with the agitating farmers and come out with a solution.

He was speaking during the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

"I just want to make this request on the farmers' issue. It is not a 'Khudai kitaab' (religious scripture) that we cannot make changes. But we have made law. If they (farmers) want it to be scrapped, why can't you talk to them," he said.

"I would request you with folded hands that let us not stand on prestige... This is our nation. We belong to this nation and if we belong to this nation let us respect everybody in this nation," Abdullah said, adding, "Come out with a solution."

While opposition members have been targeting him, Modi has been steadfast in his resolve to ‘serve’ the poor and farmers.

Meanwhile in Jaipur, Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot accused the Centre of being indifferent to the plight of the farmers even as Parliament is in session and said raising a voice in support of the farmers is not a crime in a democracy.

Pilot claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the Rajya Sabha on Monday during the motion of thanks to the President's address had failed to properly acknowledge the issues due to which the farmers were protesting.

Modi had on Monday slammed those abusing agitating Sikh farmers, saying it would not do the country any good as he went on to appeal to the protesting farmers to call off their over two-month-long stir, assuring them of continuing with the purchase of crops at an administered price or MSP.

"Parliament session is on and there was some hope, but the government has neglected the farmer," Pilot said at a farmer 'mahapanchayat' (large congregation) in Bayana town of Bharatpur district.

Pilot said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would visit Rajasthan on Friday and Saturday to address farmers' meetings.

"There has not been a single incident of any bad behaviour, hooliganism or untoward incident of breaking of law by any protesting farmers across Delhi borders," Pilot said.

The former deputy chief minister said that what happened at the Red Fort on the Republic day was condemnable and the culprits should be punished, but the farmers have held the sit-in peacefully.

Earlier in the day, Pilot told reporters in Dausa that while the BJP government had promised to double the farmers' income, it was "standing against" the tillers in a time of crisis. "Farmers of the country want to remind the party of its promises," he said.

"Raising farmers' voice is not a crime in a democracy. The Congress is with farmers and will continue to support them," he said.

Pilot said the Centre "should abandon its adamant attitude and withdraw the anti-farmer laws which were made without consulting state governments and were imposed on the farmers".

(With PTI inputs)