If the prime minister defends the agricultural bills, then what is the point of contention with the protesting farmers? Congressional spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Sunday, attacking the BJP government amid continued farmers protests in the capital. Referring to Modi’s speech at Mann ki Baat, where Prime Minister Modi said that new farm laws have given farmers new rights and opportunities, Surjewala questioned the Center’s offer to talk to farmers.
“Amit Shah can travel 1200 km and tour Hyderabad. Farmers are only 15 km away. But he can’t go meet them, ”Surjewala said.
Also read: Farmers Unions Reject Center’s Offer of Early Talks to Resolve Impasse on Farm Laws
“There are several questions about these three laws. If there is no mandi, who will buy the crop from the farmers at a minimum support price? The government says farmers can now sell their crops to other states. But 86 percent of farmers have less than five acres of land. They can even leave their district with their crops. And in his Mann ki Baat today, Modiji defended these laws against farmers, ”said Surjewala.
Congress demanded the immediate suspension of the three agricultural laws and the withdrawal of the 12,000 FIRs filed against farmers. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to farmers. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar should apologize for calling the farmers terrorists. So should BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya for calling them ‘Khalistanis’, ”said Surjewala.
The Center has invited protesting farmers to a talk on December 3.
Thousands of farmers arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, responding to Delhi Chalo’s call against the three agricultural laws, defeating all administrative attempts not to allow them to enter the capital. The AAP government has designated the Burari land where several farmers are currently protesting, but several other groups have refused to move there.
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