Opposition attacks govt after passage of farm bills in RS, calls move ‘death warrant for farmers’

The Congress on Sunday launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Central government following the passage of the farm Bills in Rajya Sabha.

While Congress leader from Punjab and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa attacked the government inside Parliament, terming the bills as “death warrants for farmers”, Randeep Surjewala took to social media to announce his intent. “We will not ask for mercy, a war will happen,” said Surjewala on Twitter.

“Congress party rejects these bills. We will not sign on this death warrant of farmers. When farmers don’t want this benefit that you claim is for them, why are you trying to force feed them?” said Bajwa.

Referring to the invasion of East India Company and the Portuguese (through trade) Bajwa said, “Farmers are not illiterate. They understand that this is a way to do away with MSP (Minimum Support Price). Once this is passed, slowly, the government will come out of this and then Ambani, Adani and big corporate houses will enter (market).”

Outside Parliament, a group of Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil, Akhilesh Pratap Singh addressed the media and said through these Bills, the Modi government is trying to hand over the agriculture sector to corporates.

“Role of the corporate sector will increase in the agriculture sector,” said senior leader Ahmed Patel.

“Whatever PM may like to advertise, history of this day will be written with black ink...The bills are against the interest of farmers...through these bills, the government is trying to hand over the agriculture sector to big corporates. Farmers will not get MSP...Problems of farmers will worsen,” added Patel while talking to the media.

Immediately after the passing of the bills in Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Derek O’Brien shared a pre-recorded video on his Twitter handle from the Central Hall of Parliament and blamed the Modi government for censoring RSTV so that people cannot watch the proceedings.

A few minutes later, he shared another video in which he can be heard saying that the Opposition parties have sat on dharna outside Parliament.

During the proceedings in Rajya Sabha, Derek also stood in front of the Deputy Chairman’s seat and attempted to show him the rulebook of the House. After that, Opposition leaders sat on dharna inside Parliament. After the House reassembled after a brief suspension, Opposition leaders continued to attack the government over the issue.

Tiruchi Siva (DMK) alleged that the government’s intention was to “sell the farmers” and make them dependent.

Siva claimed the government said it was an attempt to save farmers from the clutches of traders but in fact it was to send them into the clutches of corporates, as he questioned the government’s “sudden affection” towards farmers.