Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the country with a policy of “hum do hamare do” (the two of us, the two of us), Rahul Gandhi of Congress said today in parliament, in one of his toughest takedowns of the government led by the BJP . This policy, he said, has been at stake in demonetization, the goods and services tax, the shutdown and, most recently, the three farm laws passed in September that have caused farmers across the country to take up arms.
“Everyone should remember the saying we use for family planning: ‘Hum do, humare do’. This government has given that motto a new meaning. The country is run by four people. ‘Hum do, aur humaare do'” said the leader, who has so far kept his attacks on the BJP confined primarily to Twitter.
Mr. Gandhi, however, did not name anyone, stating instead “everyone knows them.”
The farmers’ protest, he said, is not all that it seems. For many others it is also a struggle for survival. “Everyone feels this is a farmers’ protest, but they are all very wrong. This is India’s protest … farmers are just leading the way,” he said.
This is because farm laws, he said, will not only bankrupt farmers, but will wipe out middlemen and have a “devastating effect” on small traders and small entrepreneurs. It will be a “massive blow” to small and medium-sized enterprises, which will “destroy” India’s rural economy.
“India will not be able to generate growth, generate jobs … all because the backbone of our nation will have been destroyed for the benefit of ‘Hum do, aur humaare do’,” Gandhi added amid strong protests from BJP members.
There were constant insults and interruptions from BJP MPs as Rahul Gandhi progressed with his speech. At the insistence of BJP members that he stick to the topic of the debate, the budget, Mr. Gandhi replied: “Agriculture is also part of the budget.”
“The intent of the first farm bill is to ensure that farmers’ produce is sold to a few major industrialists, one of whom is known to all as the first friend of the government. The intent of the second farm bill is to guarantee profits. from the law go to the second friend, “Gandhi said.
“The intention of the government is clear: they want to break the backbone of India by breaking the farmer, the worker, the small merchants, the middleman, and feed the pieces to these friends, the main industrialists,” added the leader of Congress, whose party has strongly supported the farmers’ protest.
“The farmers and workers of this nation will destroy you. You will never win against them. The farmers will not back down an inch … you will have to repeal these laws. In the end you will lose, that’s for sure.” added.
Anurag Thakur of the BJP, who followed Gandhi, attacked saying the congressional leader could not speak about the budget because he was not prepared.
“How (would they be prepared)? They are hardly seen in the House. Even during the Budget, they were missing for a long time. How could they talk about it? Some people stay less in Parliament, just like they stay less in Parliament. Even as I am speaking, these people are leaving Parliament because they are not in the habit of sitting in Parliament, “he said.
.
