Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi released a statement on the scrapped farm law (File)
New Delhi:
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday evening praised Modi government decided to repeal three controversial farm laws, called it “a victory of the struggle and unyielding will of 62 farmers and the employees (and) sacrifices of more than 700 farming families”.
“The anti-agricultural law is lost and annadata (peasants) emerged victorious,” she said, quelling “anti-peasant, anti-labor … (and) arrogance of dictatorial rulers”.
Mr. Gandhi also emphasized the importance of the MSP system for farmers – something farmer leaders have said they will continue to oppose even after the three laws are repealed.
“After nearly 12 months of Gandhian shock, today is the victory of the struggle and will of 62 farmers and peasant workers … the sacrifices of more than 700 farming families have paid off… Today is the triumph of truth, justice and nonviolence,” she said.
“Today, the anti-peasant, anti-labor conspiracy hatched by the rulers has been defeated, and also the arrogance of the dictatorial rulers. Today, the three anti-peasant laws are lost and annadata has disappeared. victory,” Gandhi declared.
The head of the National Assembly emphasized the importance of the MSP – farmers have asked for legal guarantees for the price support system in addition to the remove “black” laws.
“…according to the Government of India, the average farmer’s income has dropped to Rs 27 per day and the average debt burden is Rs 74,000… the government needs to rethink how to farm farmers get a fair price for their crops using MSP,” she said.
Farmers welcome the repeal of the law but will resolutely guarantee the legality of MSP
MSPs are important in helping farmers navigate the fluctuations in farming – these risks include bad weather, volatile demand, natural disasters, pest infestations, etc.
The government has said that it will only make a written (non-binding) offer of this amount.
Farmers who opposed the law welcomed the decision but stressed their determination to get legal assurances for the MSP before refusing. They have expressed concern that MSPs will be phased out under one of the (soon to be repealed) laws. which the government has denied.
Ms. Gandhi has also taken strong action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, especially over the way the law was passed last September – amid a riot in the National Assembly as opposition parties accuse the government of being political. The government circumvents the law through both houses.
“In a democracy, any decision should be made only after holding a discussion with all, the consent of all those affected, and after consulting the opposition. Hopefully the Modi government has at least learned some lessons for the future,” said Mrs. Gandhi.
Earlier today, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Union Minister P Chidambaram also spoke out about repealing these laws.
A tweet in January by Mr. Gandhi was widely shared online; in which he said: “Mark my words, the government will have to take back the anti-farmers law. “
.
