The congressman tweeted after two of the three farm bills were passed by the Rajya Sabha (File)
New Delhi:
The Narendra Modi government “makes farmers shed tears of blood,” Congressman Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Sunday after two of three controversial agricultural-related bills – which sparked furious protests from farmers – were wiped out by the Rajya Sabha in unprecedented chaos and uproar.
In a tweet as dramatic as the events in the Upper House today, Gandhi also said the government has issued “death warrants” against farmers by passing the bills.
“Farmers cultivate gold from the land, but the arrogance of the Modi government makes them shed tears of blood,” said Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied his mother – party leader Sonia Gandhi – abroad for that she undergoes routine medical tests.
“Democracy has been shamed by the way the government has passed death warrants against farmers in the form of two agricultural bills in Rajya Sabha,” he added.
जो किसान धरती से सोना उगाता है,
मोदी सरकार का घमंड उसे ख़ून के आँसू रुलाता है।राज्यसभा में आज जिस तरह कृषि विधेयक के रूप में सरकार ने किसानों के ख़िलाफ़ मौत का फ़रमान निकाला, उससे लोकतंत्र शर्मिंदा है।
– Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 20, 2020
Earlier today, in a tweet posted ahead of Rajya Sabha’s heckling, Gandhi called the bills “black anti-agriculture laws” and questioned the government on its claims of maintaining a minimum price of support (MSP) for farmers’ products.
“Why was MSP not guaranteed?” Mr Gandhi asked, repeating a question raised yesterday by party colleague P Chidambaram, who said there was no clause binding the MSP to the lowest price.
Chaos and confrontation marked the passage of the bills by Rajya Sabha today, with opposition MPs rushing to the chamber well in protest.
Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien, who was seen holding up a copy of the rules in front of the vice president, called it a “murder of democracy”.
Others, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, have questioned why the bills are rushed without consulting farmers or a review committee. Congressman Partap Singh Bajwa also called the bills “death warrants” and said: “Farmers are not illiterate. They understand that this is a way to get rid of PSM … “
Meanwhile, as there was unrest in parliament, farmers in Haryana had gathered in large numbers to protest the bills, forcing cops to use force to disperse them.
The government has said the bills will allow farmers to obtain competitive prices for their products. Tweet after the bills are passed Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges the PSM to continue.
“I said it earlier and I will say it again: the MSP system will remain. Public procurement will continue,” the prime minister said.
Farmers, however, were not reassured by verbal guarantees – a point raised by Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who resigned his post as Union minister in protest.
The two bills passed today need only President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent to become law, something Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, whose party broke ranks from the BJP camp to oppose the bills, appealed.
