Send us to jail but repeal farm laws: Congress

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the opposition parties of misleading the farmers, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that their party leaders are ready to go to jail but Centre must repeal farm laws. Surjewala even claimed that 47 mandis have closed down in Madhya Pradesh ever since the new farm laws came into force.

New Delhi: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at opposition parties for 'misleading' the farmers, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala replied that Congress leaders are even ready to go to jail but the Centre must repeal the farm laws.

While addressing a press conference, on Friday, Surjewala said, "I would ask if you have enmity against us, please send Congress leaders, myself, Rahul Gandhi to jail, but roll back these farm laws. With folded hands, we want to urge to the Prime Minister of this country that 24 farmers have already lost their lives, how many more farmers will be sacrificed?"

Surjewala even read an affidavit submitted by the Modi Government, in February 2015, to Supreme Court which stated, “It is reiterated that MSPs recommended by CACP on objective criteria considering a variety of relevant factors hence prescribing an increase of at least 50% on cost may destroy the market.”

Hitting out at the Centre, Surjewala said, "PM Narendra Modi himself had declared that a law on the MSP needs to be implemented. Then why doesn't Modiji listen to Modiji."

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He further added that Prime Minister should seek an apology from these protesting farmers, saying, "Modi government should stop deceit, fraud, hypocrisy and prapancha from the farmer. Manohar Lal Khattar Ji calls these farmers Khalistani, Piyush Goyal Ji calls them Naxalites, Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji calls them Tukde-Tukde gang, Narendra Tomar Ji calls them political puppets. These Annadatas did not come to hear your abuses. They have come to ask for their livelihood and bread, to demand justice."

Surjewala even claimed that 47 mandis have closed down in Madhya Pradesh ever since the new farm laws came into force.

Earlier today, PM Modi during a virtual address said that the MSP is not going anywhere through the new Farm Laws while slamming the Opposition for spreading a 'web of lies' to 'mislead' the agrarian community.

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