New Delhi : On Centre’s withdrawal of controversial three farm laws, which led to the protests nationwide, proves that democracy was still “alive and well” in the country, farmer leader and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) chief Raju Shetti on Friday said that this ‘tactical move’ would not help swing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) fortunes in the upcoming Assembly elections in five states.
Speaking to Media, Mr. Shetti said that the Centre’s backing down in face of collective farmer protests was “a historic occasion”, while contending that Mr. Modi’s announcement to repeal the contentious laws would have made a greater impact had it been done on January 26 this year itself.
“It is now almost a year since farmers from the Punjab, Haryana and other places began their mega-protests, which were peaceful in nature…during this while, the BJP-ruled Centre tried every trick in their book to defame and break the protests movement, and when these failed, tried to incite violence. However, the farmers firmly stood their ground and the Centre had to rollback these anti-farmer laws,” said the SSS chief.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his announcement that the government has decided to repeal the Centre’s three farm laws Modi on Friday announced that the government has decided to repeal the three farm laws, which were at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year.
“Great news! Thankful to PM @narendramodi ji for acceding to the demands of every punjabi & repealing the 3 black laws on the pious occasion of #GuruNanakJayanti. I am sure the central govt will continue to work in tandem for the development of Kisani! #NoFarmers_NoFood @AmitShah,” Singh said in a tweet.
Supreme Court-appointed farm panel member Anil Ghanwat on Friday described as regressive the Central government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws which were at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year.
“This is the most regressive step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he chose politics over farmers betterment,” Ghanwat told PTI.
“Our panel had submitted several corrections and solutions over the three farm laws, but instead of using it to solve the impasse, Modi and BJP chose to backtrack. They just want to win elections and nothing else,” he said.
Addressing the nation on Friday morning on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, the prime minister said the three laws were for the benefit of farmers but we couldn’t convince a section of farmers despite best efforts.
Ghanwat, president of Shetkari Sanghatna, said, “Despite submission of our recommendations to the Supreme Court, it now seems that this government has not even read it. The decision to repel the farm laws is purely political, with an aim to win the Uttar Pradesh and Punjab elections in the coming months.
Ghanwat said the decision to repeal the farm laws has now closed the doors of all types of reforms in agriculture and its marketing sector.” “The farmers interest has been sacrificed over the party’s (BJP) political interest,” he said.
As Union agriculture minister, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had pushed for similar reforms, but for political reasons, he opposed these laws later, Chanwat said. “As a farmers organisation, we will continue to sensitise people on this sue, he added
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