BJP MLA O Rajagopal endorsed farm laws in the state assembly.
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala’s only BJP lawmaker, whose victory marked the party’s debut in the state four years ago, sparked controversy today with his conflicting comments on a resolution against the center’s controversial farm laws that was unanimously passed in the state assembly. Shortly after his speech to the assembly in favor of the laws, O Rajagopal did not vote against the resolution. He later surprised many with his response to reporters in his “support.” The 91-year-old BJP leader has issued a statement saying he is “strongly opposed.”
The resolution seeking the repeal of the three laws, a central demand of thousands of people camping near Delhi’s borders since late November, was proposed by the chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, in the state assembly. “If these protests continue, they will seriously affect Kerala. If agricultural products stop reaching a consuming state like Kerala, the state will be pushed into starvation. The Center is shirking its responsibility to provide fair prices to farmers,” he said Vijayan. he postponed it, urging the center to repeal the laws and accept the demands of the protesting farmers.
The ruling LDF and the opposition UDF led by Congress voted in his favor. However, the only MLA of the BJP endorsed the agricultural laws in the assembly during his speech. “Bharat is a land of farmers. These laws are for the benefit and protection of farmers, to put an end to middlemen and commission agents. These laws give farmers the right to sell their products anywhere. People who oppose These laws are the ones that are against the interests of farmers. Such laws have been suggested by (the) Congress and (the) CPM in the past, “he told the house. But he did not vote against the resolution.
Outside the assembly, his statements surprised reporters when he said: “I support this resolution. We have certain differences in the arguments that have been presented. I have pointed out those differences. I agree with the substance of the resolution.”
When pointed out that he was going against his party’s position in backing the state resolution, he said: “This may not be a party position. These commitments are part of the democratic system. We must not be inflexible. We must go with consensus. Before that consensus is formalized, I expose my difference of views to the people. “
Hours later, he took a 180-degree turn in a press release, making it clear that he was against the resolution: “I have strongly opposed the resolution against the farm laws. I have clearly expressed my position in the assembly during my speech. I have even said that the prime minister is always ready for the talks, but the protesters’ precondition of repealing the laws for the talks has delayed the process. My being against the central government is contrary to the truth. “
The BJP MLA also alleged “violation of the rules” in the assembly when the resolution was passed. “The speaker, during the vote, did not ask supporters and opponents separately. He asked only one question, rather than asking separately. This is (a) violation of the rules.”
Rajagopal made headlines in 2016 when he won his first election at the age of 86 after losing 15 elections. “It is not the first time. Abraham Lincoln participated in several elections only to be defeated … before he finally became president of the United States. We are pursuing him because we have a goal,” he had told NDTV at the time. His victory had marked the debut of the BJP in Kerala, a state it never saw beyond the left and Congress.
Today’s special session was preceded by controversy: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had previously denied the first request from the Pinarayi Vijayan government to convene the session. He later agreed after the state government made a second recommendation.
Controversial agricultural laws, which were approved by parliament in September without much debate, have led to the biggest protests the agricultural sector has seen in years.
Thousands of people have been camping near the borders of Delhi since last month demanding a minimum price guarantee for their products and protesting against the entry of private players into the agricultural sector.
Yesterday, after the sixth round of discussions with peasant leaders, the government said that an agreement had been reached on two of the four issues raised by the protesters.
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