Farmers Movement Archive

Congress ratchets up pressure on govt on eve of farmers talks

NEW DELHI: Upping the pressure on the eve of the Centre’s talks with farmers, Congress Tuesday said that Modi regime should repeal the three controversial farm laws and bring fresh bills with proposed amendments in Parliament. It said the government should settle the standoff according to the demands of the farmers. Asked if his comment about making amendments marked a shift in Congress demand that the three laws should be annulled, AICC spokesperson Rajiv Shukla clarified, “You first repeal the laws and then bring new laws incorporating the changes that the farmers are demanding. It is the normal legislative process.” Shukla told a press conference that farmers were seriously worried about the attempts to end the MSP regime and Mandis, adding that it was reprehensible that government and the ruling BJP were trying to paint the agitation as a political conspiracy. “The government’s motives are dubious,” he, along with Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Dotasra, said. Dotasra claimed that farmers in Rajasthan were agitated over the “intransigence” of the Centre and were set to join the protest at the Delhi border if Wednesday’s talks don’t yield a positive result. “PM Narendra Modi sought votes by promising that he will work in the farmers’ interest and raise the MSP according to a formula based on input costs. Now, he is conspiring against the farmers. The farming community is angry and is keenly watching the talks being carried out by the Central government,” he said. Shukla said every section of society was unhappy with the Modi government because of its policies like demonetisation, GST and farm laws.

The Times of India

2020-12-30

India