NEW DELHI: A delegation of opposition parties that includes Rahul gandhi, Sharad Pawar Leaders of the left and the left met with President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday to call for the repeal of the three agricultural laws against which thousands of farmers They have been protesting on various borders of the national capital.
The five-member delegation of opposition leaders included the CPM Secretary General Sitaram Yechury, CPI General Secretary D Raja and DMK leader TKS Elangovan, as well as Gandhi and Pawar.
“We met with the president and informed him of our opinion on the three agricultural laws. We have asked for their repeal. We informed the president that it is essential that they withdraw,” Gandhi told reporters after meeting with the president.
He said that the way the farm laws were passed in Parliament, “we think it was an insult to the farmers and that’s why they are protesting in the cold weather.”
The former head of Congress said the new laws appeared to be aimed at handing over the agricultural sector to “friends of the prime minister,” but farmers are not afraid, they will not back down and will continue their peaceful agitation.
PNC leader Pawar said that several political parties have petitioned the president for these agricultural laws to be repealed, as they were not discussed with interested parties or in Parliament’s Select Committee.
Yechury said: “We told the president that the three farm laws were passed in an undemocratic manner in Parliament and we have sought the repeal of these laws.”
The opposition delegation was limited to five due to the Covid-19 situation.
The three farm laws enacted in September have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agricultural sector that will eliminate middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
However, protesting farmers have expressed fear that the new laws would pave the way for removing the Minimum Livelihood Price safety cushion and eliminating mandis, leaving them at the mercy of large corporations.
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