Opposition leaders meet President, seek repeal of farm laws

The delegation of opposition parties alleged that the government had “insulted” the farmers by getting these passed in Parliament in an “undemocratic” manner without any discussion and consultations.

A delegation of opposition parties on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind to seek repeal of the three new farm laws enacted in September this year, alleging that the government had “insulted” the farmers by getting these passed in Parliament in an “undemocratic” manner without any discussion and consultations.

A delegation of Opposition leaders comprising Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, and TKS Elangovan called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan and presented a memorandum. (PTI)

The meeting came a day after the Bharat bandh called by various farmers’ unions in protest against these laws. Thousands of farmers are currently agitating on various borders of Delhi.

The five-member delegation of opposition leaders included former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan.

The opposition delegation was limited to five because of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

“We urge upon you, as the custodian of the Indian Constitution, to persuade your government not to be obdurate and accept the demands raised by India’s annadatas,” the opposition leaders said in a memorandum submitted to the President.

The memorandum further said over 20 different political parties, including those running state governments, have extended their solidarity with the farmers over their ongoing struggle and also supported their ‘Bharat bandh’ call on December 8, demanding the repeal of the agri-laws and the electricity amendment bill.

“We met the President and informed him of our views regarding the three farm laws. We have asked for their repeal. We informed him that it is critical that they are taken back,” Gandhi told reporters after the meeting.

“The way the farm laws were passed in Parliament, we feel it was an insult to farmers and that is why they are protesting in the cold weather against them. They will not relent and will continue their peaceful agitation till the laws are taken back,” he said.

The former Congress chief claimed that the new laws were aimed at handing over the farm sector to the “friends” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“But the farmers are fearless and will not back off. They have lost faith in the government,” he added.

Pawar said various political parties have requested the President that these farm laws should be repealed as they were not discussed with either stakeholders or in the select committee of Parliament.

“Not a single suggestion offered by opposition leaders in Parliament was accepted by the government and all these bills were passed in haste,” he said.

“In this cold, the farmers are on streets protesting peacefully, expressing their unhappiness. It is the duty of the government to resolve this issue,” Pawar added.

The NCP chief said the MSP has not been mentioned in the new farm laws and that is why the farmers are disturbed.

His views were echoed by Yechury. “We told President that the three farm laws were passed undemocratically in Parliament and have sought the repeal of these laws,” he said.

The CPI (M) leader said the government should repeal the acts in view of the widespread protests by farmers.

“The Prime Minister has been saying that these laws are in the interest of farmers, but the question is if these laws in their favour then why are they protesting out in the cold,” he said.