Mr Prasad said it was clearly mentioned in the manifesto that the Congress will “repeal the APMC act and make inter-state trade free of restrictions”.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, the union minister and senior BJP leader, today accused non-BJP parties of jumping onto the bandwagon of the farmers’ protest. Mr Prasad said whatever has been done in the NDA government’s farm sector reforms, was on the opposition’s to-do list when it was in power. He mainly attacked the Congress, which the minister said, was in favour of privatisation when in power. Mr Prasad also took on NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who he said was in favour of these changes during his term as union agriculture minister during UPA years.
The repeal of the APMC Act was part of the 2019 manifesto of the Congress, Mr Prasad said. The minister added that contract farming also started during the Manmohan Singh government in many Congress states.
Mr Prasad said it was clearly mentioned in the manifesto that the Congress will “repeal the APMC act and make inter-state trade free of restrictions”.
“In an interview with Shekhar Gupta, Sharad Pawar the APMC Act will end in six months… The recommendation of the Planning Commission came during the UPA government that the central government may enact inter-state agriculture trade act,” the law minister said.
“When Sharad Pawar was saying that if we do not improve then we will stop giving financial support, then SP, TDP, Left were all supporting Manmohan government. This is your double character. You are ready to go to any limit,” he added.
The BJP has been targeting the opposition since it has come out in support of agitating farmers. Opposition parties have also backed the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by farmers on Tuesday.
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