New Delhi:
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday coined a term to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment that the nation should be vigilant about who he called. “andolan jeevi” or professional protesters. Speaking at the Lok Sabha, Mr Yadav, a fervent critic of the Prime Minister, in a strong attack on the ruling BJP, said that those who collect donations should be called upon “chanda jeevi” or professional donation collectors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while responding to the motion of thanks to the president in Rajya Sabha on Monday, had asked thousands of farmers protesting against the center’s agricultural laws to stop their agitation and enter into a dialogue with the government about their demands. However, he later added that one must be aware of a “new category” of people: “Andolan jeevi”.
Mr Yadav today highlighted the role of mass movements in the progress of the country, in an energetic response to Prime Minister Modi. “The nation achieved independence through agitation. Countless rights were received through agitation. Women received the right to vote through agitation. Mahatma Gandhi became the father of the nation because he agitated for Africa, the world and the nation, “he said.
“What is said about the agitations? That people are ” aandolan jeevi ”. How should I call the people who come out to collect donations? Are they not members of ‘‘chanda jeevi sangathan’ ‘ (organization that collects donations)? ”, He added.
Mr. Yadav also reacted to PM Modi’s assurance to farmers that the Minimum Price of Support system will not be eliminated.
“Yesterday I heard ‘MSP that, MSP hai, MSP rahega‘. It is only in speeches but not on the ground. The farmers are not receiving it, if they had been receiving it, they would not be sitting on the roads of Delhi. I congratulate the restless farmers for waking up farmers across India, “said Yadav.
The prime minister’s comment was criticized by the opposition.
Farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have protested against agricultural laws on three borders of Delhi: Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri. They demand the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee for MSP, for fear that the legislation will make them vulnerable to business exploitation.
The government says the laws will help improve their income as farmers will have more avenues to sell their crops.
Several rounds of talks between farmers and centers have failed to break the deadlock.
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