New Delhi: Backing the farmers protest against the farm bills, the Congress on Saturday, launched a scathing attack on the central government alleging it of torturing the farmers for the last seven years. The statement comes in the wake of completion of seven months of farmers agitation who have been camping on the outskirts of the national capital demanding a repeal of the three contentious farm laws.
"For seven years, Modi government has been suppressing the rights of farmers," said a statement released by Congress' chief spokesperson and general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, adding, "In the last seven months, Modi government has crossed all limits to torture our farmers. It has lathicharged on our farmers, tortured them with tear gas and even used spikes on their routes. This government called the protesting farmers terrorists and Khalistanis. But Congress is standing still with the farmers."
Congress stands with the farmers today when the farmers had planned a 'tractor rally' and wanted to submit memorandums to the Governors across the country seeking a repeal of three farm laws.
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In addition, Congress has also asked seven questions to the Center. "Has the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices not alleged in its Kharif Report 2021-22 that the government keeps the sample size too small to calculate the cost, which does not lead to the correct cost price? Is it not correct that the government in its February 2015 affidavit in the Supreme Court admitted that out of 201 recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, the Congress government had implemented 175 exactly as of January 2014? But why did the Modi government not take a single step forward after that?"
The Congress slammed the government saying, "Isn't the government grain market being closed continuously since the three black laws were implemented? Is the farmer not free to sell his crop anywhere in the country outside the mandis? If this is true, then what is the need of three anti-farming black laws? Has the suspension of three anti-farming black laws that give freebies to hoarding curbed hoarding to some extent? Then why does the Modi government want to give exemption to hoarders by implementing three black laws?"
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Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out in support of farmers agitation as he tweeted in Hindi, "It's simple - We, Satyagrahis, are with the Annadata."
On the other hand, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged the farmers to end their agitation saying that the centre is open to discuss any provision in the farm laws.
