New Delhi: Congress party, on Thursday, made it clear that it will continue to support the farmers protest until the Central Government withdraws the three contentious laws. The statement comes on the first day of the 'Kisan Sansad' organised by the farmers unions at Jantar Mantar. In support of the protesting farmers, Opposition parties also held a protest at the Gandhi Statue inside the Parliament premises.
While addressing the media, Congress' Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said, "Today we moved an Adjournment Motion in the house, demanding a discussion over the farmers agitation. We also held a protest at Gandhi Statue under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. When a Minister stands up, he gets the permission to hold discussion within the house but when we give adjournment motion, our request gets denied. This is the double standards of government."
He further added, "This government took all the extreme measures to divide the farmers. It used tear gas shells, water canons, spikes to stop the farmers. The protesting farmers were labelled as 'Pakistanis', 'Khalistanis', 'desh-drohi' by the government. But these farmers are standing still and Modi ji and Shah ji should not try to scare them. Our only demand is that Centre should listen to the farmers and take back those three farm laws."
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Narendra Modi Sahab and Tomar Sahab repeatedly asking us what is wrong with these laws. We have explained it many times and yet we are ready to discuss it again. On one side, government is claiming that they want to work for the welfare of farmers and farm-labourers, while on the other side, it is taking away all of their rights."
"The reason why inflation is rising in our country is that the previous governments had tried to catch the blackmarketers while the present government is allowing them to roam scot free. Nonetheless, we are with the farmers. We are fighting for them and will continue to do so," Kharge asserted.
Replying to ETV Bharat's question that the farmers have alleged Opposition has failed to fulfill it's responsibilities, Kharge replied, "We are doing our best." Later in the day, the BJP MP and Minister of State of External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi made a controversial remark calling the protesting farmers "Mawali" during a press conference.
Reacting to the comment, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, "Meenakshi Lekhi ji is an MP as well as a Cabinet Minister. Whatever she says is the word of Modi government. Now Modi ji should come forward and explain if he agrees with Meenakshi Lekhi or if he disagrees then what kind of disciplinary action he will take against her."
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