New Delhi: Congress party, on Saturday, took an aggressive stand against the Central Government for failing to break the deadlock with the farmers and announced that the party will hold a nationwide protest on January 15 at the state and district level, seeking repeal of the three controversial farm laws.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of Congress General Secretaries and state incharges, held today. The meeting was headed by Congress General Secretary incharge KC Venugopal, while the party President Sonia Gandhi give it a miss.
Congress' Chief Spokesperson and General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Congress is duty-bound to stand with the farmers. Therefore, it has been decided that Congress party will observe 'Kisan Adhikar Diwas' on January 15, under which the party members will hold a protest in front of Rajabhavan (Governor's office) in each state."
"Apart from this, Congress will also launch an online campaign "Speak Up for Farmers" on the same day for which various leaders of the party will share their videos on social media, demanding the withdrawal of three farm laws.
While addressing a press conference, Surjewala alleged, "The Modi Government is conspiring to frustrate and tire out the protesting farmers instead of abolishing the three laws, Center is playing a game of conducting various meetings and giving date after date to the protesting farmers. This country has never seen such a ruthless government in the past 73 years, which has also left behind the oppressions of East India Company.
He blamed the Central Government for the deaths of 60 farmers during these protests against the farm laws, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is directly responsible for these deaths.
"This Government is trying to run away from its responsibilities, therefore it is asking the farmers to move to Supreme Court. These three laws have not been enacted by the Supreme Court but forcibly created in Parliament. The Constitution of India has not given the reslaw-makingy of law making to the court, but it has been given to the Parliament. If Center is units to handle its responsibility then it has no right to remain in power even for a minute," said Surjewala.
The Congress leader even questioned the Apex Court saying what is the reason that the protesting farmers are not ready to move to the court seeking their demand of withdrawal of the three laws. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who also attended the virtual meeting, asserted that though the protesting farmers wanted to maintain distance from any political party, it is "incumbent on Congress to stand in solidarity with the farmers" as it is the main opposition party in the nation.
On Friday, Gandhi also met the Punjab Congress MPs and MLAs, who are protesting at Jantar Mantar, asserting that the only way for the government to end the impasse with protesting farmers is to withdraw the three laws.
