New Delhi: On the day when India is celebrating Constitution Day, thousands of farmers were being stopped forcefully from entering Delhi to protest against the recently enacted farm bills. Congress party, on Thursday, accused the BJP Government of "suppressing" the rights of farmers, saying that the "country will never forgive them for doing this".
While addressing a virtual press conference, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "BJP Government is apathetic to farmers’ rights after mortgaging them to their corporate friends. Today marks a black day history and it is highly unfortunate that around 62 crore farmers and 250 farm organizations from all over the country are protesting against the draconian farm bills but the present government is hellbent on suppressing the genuine demands and concerns of the farmers."
He further added, "On the eve of Constitution day, farmers have been stopped from entering Delhi. With force too in a number of instances. Does the constitution not guarantee rights for our farmers? Has the BJP government reserved the rights only for their privileged friends only?"
For their 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, thousands of farmers started their movement towards the national capital to protest against the contentious laws. Enroute, Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the farmers. While two government and a private vehicle were also vandalized on the Jind-Patiala highway.
Congress party supported the demands of farmer organizations saying that MSP should be given as a legal right and contract farming should be abolished, alleging that the new Ordinances will have an overriding effect on the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) and MSP regime.
Gourav Vallabh also attacked the BJP-ruled Central Government for promising the farmers of doubling their income by 2022, by saying, that the agricultural incomes fell to a 14 year low in 2018-19 and agricultural products witnessed the worst price slump in 18 years the same year.
"Now, BJP is hatching a cruel conspiracy to mortgage agriculture and agricultural land in the hands of crony capitalists. We have been opposing the bills vehemently since the time they were introduced," he stated.
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The Congress leader even raised a series of questions to the BJP Government, "Which constitution is the BJP government following? When the farmers reach out for their rights, they are suppressed, why is the government so scared of the farmers? Why is the government not willing to engage and hold discussions with the farmers?"
Many other Congress leaders also slammed the Modi Government for using water cannons and tear gas on the protesting farmers.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Center by tweeting a verse in Hindi, and saying that the country's farmers are standing resolutely in the face of Modi government's cruelty against them.
While the General Secretary incharge of Congress, KC Venugopal tweeted, "The brutality of the State force coming thundering down on our farmers, that too on Constitution Day, is but a reflection of Modi Govt's gory truth: they are never 'for the people'.We condemn these excesses & stand steadfast with our farmers, with our workers, with our people."
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh even engaged in a war of words with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar when he alleged that it is him who is inciting farmers to protest as there is no threat over MSP.
"Shocked at your response ML Khattar ji. It's the farmers who've to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should've tried to talk to them before their Dilli Chalo. And if you think I’m inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi?" Replied Capt Amarinder Singh in a tweet.
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