Farmers Movement Archive

Rahul a ‘VIP kisan’, sits on sofa on tractor: Smriti Irani

Gandhinagar: Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi terming him a “VIP kisan” (farmer) after photographs showed him sitting on a cushioned seat of a tractor during his party’s protest rally in Punjab against the Centre’s new farm laws. She was addressing reporters at Gandhinagar. She, however, avoided any specific comment on the Hathras rape incident. Rahul Gandhi is holding a series of tractor rallies named ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ across Punjab to protest against the three farm laws being seen as major reforms in the agriculture sector. “He is someone who uses a sofa to sit on a tractor. A VIP kisan like him can never support a system which is meant to free small and marginal farmers from the clutches of middlemen,” said Irani, who defeated Gandhi in Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Union textiles and women and child development minister avoided any specific comment on the Hathras rape incident. She said, “Judicial inquiry is ongoing, so I would not make any comment. PM Narendra Modi’s government does not make any compromise in ensuring women’s security.’’ Addressing the media at Kamalam, the state BJP headquarters, the Union minister hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his comment that the Congress, if voted to power, will scrap the contentious legislations. “His dream of coming to power will never be fulfilled,” the BJP leader said, adding “It is not in his nature to respect parliamentary traditions”. She was referring to a 2013 incident where Gandhi had torn an ordinance (to protect convicted lawmakers) brought in by the Congress-led UPA government. She said the new laws give farmers the right to sell their produce to anyone, anywhere at the price which farmers deem fit. She added that the Congress is rattled as its politics is about keeping cultivators dependent on middlemen. Irani claimed people are unable to understand why the Congress was against laws that would ensure farmers get fair and quick payment for their produce. President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which were passed by the Parliament last month. The Modi government claims these laws will boost growth in the agriculture sector, but critics say the reforms will lead to exploitation of farmers by big private companies.

The Times of India

2020-10-06

Ahmedabad