The AAP has introduced three bills to counter farm laws, as its MLAs tore up copies of the centre’s bills.
New Delhi:
Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal tore up copies of agricultural bills during a special session of the Assembly on Thursday, urging the center “not to be worse than the British.” Mr. Kejriwal also asked the center “what was the rush to get farm laws passed during the pandemic.”
“I hereby break the three farm laws in this House and call on the center not to become worse (e) than (the) British. What was the rush to pass farm laws in parliament during the pandemic? (coronavirus)? “asked Mr. Kejriwal during a session called to discuss the farmers’ protest.
“All farmers have become Bhagat Singh … the government says they are reaching out to farmers and trying to explain the benefits of farm laws … UP Chief Minister told farmers they will benefit because they will not take away their land. Is that a benefit? “added the Chief Minister.
The AAP has openly supported farmers and even provided basic infrastructure (clean water, health care and sanitation) to thousands of people who fought tear gas and lathi charges, and are now braving the cold to camp on the borders from Delhi for almost three weeks now.
Last week, Mr. Kejriwal visited farmers in Singhu (on the Delhi-Haryana border) and said: “We support all the demands of the farmers.” He also said that the bills “decriminalize speculation and hoarding” and target critics who allege the involvement of separatist elements.
AAP MLA @attorneybharti and @MohinderAAP rip copy of 3 Farm Bills.
“We refuse to accept these black laws that are against farmers.” pic.twitter.com/7s4puJNZPA
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 17, 2020
“Some BJP leaders are saying that farmers are anti-national. Many former military … singers, celebrities, doctors, merchants support them … are they all anti-national too?” he asked on Monday.
Kejriwal also took issue with the center over reports that more than 20 protesters, including the 65-year-old priest of a Haryana gurudwara, have died since the unrest began nearly three weeks ago.
“… how many sacrifices will farmers have to make to make their voices heard?” he asked.
20 से ज्यादा किसान इस आंदोलन में शहीद हो चुके हैं। रोज एक किसान शहीद हो रहा हैं।
मैं केंद्र सरकार से पूछना चाहता और कितनी शहादत और कितनी जान आप लोगे? : मुख्यमंत्री @ArvindKejriwal#KejriwalAgainstFarmBillspic.twitter.com/UDnlcvchnb
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 17, 2020
Kejriwal’s former Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Mahendra Goyal and Somnath Bharti, also broke copies while bills passed by the center in September were being presented.
“We refuse to accept these black laws, which are against farmers,” said Goyal, Bharti and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who introduced the bills.
Delhi will become the third state (after Punjab and Rajasthan, ruled by Congress) to pass legislation designed to counter the laws of the center.
This morning, the Supreme Court, hearing a handful of petitions on the subject, said that as long as the protests continue they could not be allowed to block access to the national capital.
The thousands of farmers camped around Delhi have also occupied roads for the past three weeks. However, they have made it a point to never stop emergency services, such as ambulances.
Several rounds of talks between the farmers and the center have so far failed to resolve the confrontation; Neither side is willing to back down – farmers want the laws removed, and the center says it will only amend the most problematic sections.
With contributions from ANI
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