Farmers Movement Archive

PM cannot see the pain and struggle of farmers: Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said a government that ignored public sentiments in a democracy did not remain in power for long, and described the Narendra Modi government as the first “arrogant regime in Independent India that cannot see the pain and struggle of farmers”. Ensuring profits for a select few capitalists has become the main agenda of the government, she said, and reminded the Centre that “democracy means protecting the interest of farmers-workers”. On the 39th day of farmers’ protests at the Singhu border in Delhi, Ms. Gandhi said in a statement that the government should shun arrogance and unconditionally repeal the three farm laws to end the agitation. “Just like fellow citizens, I am distressed to see the plight of our farmers who are protesting at Delhi’s borders for 39 days in this bone-chilling cold and rain to get their demands accepted,” she said. The Congress leader said over 50 protesting farmers had died because of the government’s apathy and a few ended their lives in the protest, but that had neither melted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart nor any Minister had a comforting word to say to the families of those who died. “After Independence, this is the first government that is filled with arrogance to such an extent that it is not only blind to the pain and struggle of common people but also those who feed the country,” she said. “In a democracy, a government or a leader who ignores public sentiments cannot govern for long. It is now absolutely clear that the agitating farmers-workers will not kneel before this government’s policy of tiring out the protesters and end the agitation.” CPI plea Communist Party of India general secretary, D. Raja, said the government must be sensitive towards the farmers and repeal the laws. “The government should be sincere in its talks with the farmers. Parliament will be meeting soon and it can debate and bring a new law,” he said. Ensuring profits for a few capitalists has become the Central government’s agenda Sonia Gandhi Congress president

The Hindu

2021-01-04

New Delhi