Farmers Movement Archive

Rajasthan govt playing politics over farm laws: Rajendra Rathore

JAIPUR: Deputy leader of Opposition in the assembly Rajendra Rathore, during a debate on the governor’s address, took a sharp dig at the state government for misleading people on the Centre’s farm laws and “playing politics” over it. He also hit out at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for failing to fulfill his promise in waiving the debt of farmers who took loans from nationalized, scheduled and RRB banks. Rathore said, “A debt-ridden farmer named Sohan Lal ha d committed suicide and blamed the chief minister and the then deputy chief minister (Sachin Pilot) for failing to deliver on the promise to waive farmers’ loans. If Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president, during his visit to Pilibanga (Hanumangarh) on Friday, takes the effort of going to the farmer’s Thakri village (Ganganagar) and expresses solidarity, then it is okay.” “Of the total loan of Rs 99,996crore, the state government has only waived farm loans taken from cooperative banks amounting to Rs 6,000 crore. The CM has failed to keep his promise to waive loans of all the farmers in the state,” added Rathore. Opposing the motion during the debate on the Governor’s address, Rathore said, “There is no framework for development, no willpower for good governance in the address. It is directionless, disappointing and lacks desire for development of the state.” Taking a dig at the state government for passing three bills countering farm laws enacted by centre, he said, “The bills were passed via brute majority only to ensure its welfare (kalyan) and not that of the farmers. As per provisions of the Constitution, the law passed by the Parliament shall be considered valid on a subject pertaining to the concurrent list, and not the law that is passed by the state assembly. As Rathore raised the issue of Republic Day violence at the Red Fort, it led to an uproar in the house and Congress MLAs protested his remarks. “The CM while delivering a speech recently had said that democratic institutions were being weakened and destroyed. This is the same party during whose rule Emergency was declared and all constitutional rights were suspended.” He went on to say they were the “same people who supported those who insulted the national flag at the Red Fort.” The Speaker had to intervene to bring the house in order as the Congress MLAs protested, saying “it was an attempt to sabotage the farmers’ agitation”. Attacking the government on the rise in number of rape cases, crime against women, deteriorating law and order situation, increase in corruption cases and unemployment, he said the government has failed in all these aspects.

The Times of India

2021-02-12

Udaipur