CWC passes resolution on farm laws, party to hold nationwide protest

Passing a resolution on the three farm laws, Congress Working Committee, on Friday said that the Modi Government is "determined to sacrifice" farmers' interests at the altar of a handful of "crony industrialist friends".

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee, on Friday, passed a resolution against the three contentious farm laws, alleging that the Modi Government is "determined to sacrifice" farmers interests at the altar of a handful of "crony industrialist friends".

Addressing a press conference after the CWC meet, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, "Entire country’s food security is dependent on our 'annadatas' and each and every Congressman will be involved in this massive agitation programme."

"We decided to hold block-level demonstrations throughout the country before February 10. Those will be followed by a district-level agitation throughout the country before February 20. Finally, at the state-level there will be a massive convention before February 28 to show solidarity with the farmers," he further added.

The CWC resolution reads, "Lakhs of farmers have been forced to sit on Delhi's borders in bone-chilling cold, hailstorms and rains. According to the farmers' organisations, 147 farmers have lost their lives. The Prime Minister and an arrogant BJP Government refuse to feel their agony and anguish or listen to their cry for justice."

It further added, "Across the country, farmers and farm labourers have been protesting, taking out rallies, holding hunger strikes, conducting tractor yatras and extensive demonstrations, yet a tyrannical Government dismisses the angst of millions of farmers by branding them as 'anti-nationals' and worse."

The CWC resolution alleged that the three laws "impinge" upon the Constitutional rights of States and constitute the first step in dismantling the three pillars of the edifice of Food Security built up over the past decades—MSP, Public Procurement and PDS.

It also noted that the three Agrarian Laws did not pass the test of Parliamentary Scrutiny as they were "bulldozed by muzzling the voice of the opposition", particularly in Rajya Sabha, as the three laws were passed by Voice Vote in an "unprecedented fashion" as the Government did not have the requisite majority on the floor.

CWC asserted that, if implemented, these laws will affect every citizen of the country as pricing of all food products would be at the mercy of a handful of people.

"There is only one demand of India's farmers and farm labourers — repeal the three objectionable laws. But the Government continues to side-step, malign, deceive and hoodwink the farmers by attempting to tire out, intimidate and divide the farmers. Let the BJP Government understand one unequivocal truth - India's farmers shall neither bow down nor be cowed down," the resolution stated.