New Delhi: Congress party on Thursday hit out at Central Government for bringing in Agriculture ordinances alleging that it's an attempt to defeat the purpose of Green Revolution. The ruling BJP is converting the 'disaster of farmers' into an 'opportunity of capitalists' by introducing these bills amid COVID-19 pandemic.
This Government has been eying how they can take the farmers land to benefit their capitalist friends. The government says that it is a blessing, if so, then why are the farmers on streets? Why are they being beaten by the Police?" said Gaurav Gogoi while addressing the media.
He further alleged, "Today's speech of Union Minister is a honey trap for Indian farmers. All the clauses of this bill are for the capitalists on how they can exploit the farmers without any regulation. Today, when farmers need protection from the Government, they are asking them to negotiate with corporates. Modi Govt is acting as a broker to those industrialists who wants to enter in Indian Agriculture market."
Other opposition parties are also opposing the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 that the Center had introduced in June to replace the earlier ordinances.
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He said, "Today, Prime Minister's birthday will be written as a cruel black chapter against India's agriculture. 62 crore farm-labourers and more than 250 farmer organizations are on streets to demonstrate across the length and breadth of India."
Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "It's a diabolical conspiracy of Modi Government to defeat Green Revolution. Modi Government is akin to Corona Pandemic. It is attacking farmers, farm-labourers and bartering agriculture at the doorsteps of crony capitalists."
"The draconian laws on agriculture will be a death knell for the future of farming in India. BJP government is hell-bent upon destroying the farmer and bartering the agriculture at the altar of a handful of crony capitalists," he added.
Gogoi also raised the issue of non-payment of GST compensation to the states. He said, "Government is not paying GST compensation to the states. Now, Center is even trying to block rest of the revenue options of the states. If this continues, then how will they be able to tackle COVID situation? Modi Government is breaking the economy of states and the farmers so that these capitalists will give money to BJP in the upcoming elections."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also slammed the Government in his tweet, saying, "Modi Ji promised to double the income of farmers. But the 'black laws' of Modi Government are being made to economically exploit the farm-labourers. This is a new form of 'Zamindari' and some 'friends' of Modi ji will be 'Zamindars' of New India. Agriculture market has been reduced, food security of the country has been erased."
READ: Punjab MP protests against farm ordinance, calls it 'kala kanoon'
