Farmers Movement Archive

Change of heart for fear of defeat in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

LUCKNOW: Terming the central government’s decision to repeal the farm laws a “U-turn”, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said the change of heart was due to the fear of defeat in assembly elections. “The PM has sought an apology from the nation on the issue of farmers… He has announced to repeal the farm laws but people of the country are not naive. They are aware that elections are round the corner and circumstances are not in favour of the BJP. Therefore, he is asking for an apology now after the death of over 600 farmers,” Priyanka, who was in Lucknow, said. Reminding the people that the farmers were addressed with terms like ‘andolanjeevi’, ‘goonda’, ‘aatankwadi’ and ‘deshdrohi’, she questioned the PM’s silence when such disrespect was shown to farmers. “What was the PM doing when farmers were being labelled as ‘andolanjeevi’ and ‘aatankwadi’? Why was he silent when the farmers were cane charged and when they died during the course of agitation,” she asked. Referring to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, she said: “While he remained ignorant to the pain and plight of the aggrieved families, he continued to keep the minister, whose son is accused in the case, under his wings.” Priyanka raised doubts over the intention of the government but expressed happiness over the fact that it finally realized that there was nothing more important than the farmers of the country.

The Times of India

2021-11-20

Lucknow