The farmers’ unions had called for a nationwide strike, or Bharat Bandh, on Tuesday
Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday slammed the opposition parties for coming out against the farm reforms and exposed their ‘double standards’ on the agriculture laws.
Addressing a press conference held to target the opposition for its actions amid the farmers’ protest, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Opposition parties have jumped into the issue of new farm laws. During UPA rule, they did exactly what the Modi govt is doing today for reforms in the farm sector. Now that they’re losing polls, they take part in any protest for the sake of their existence.”
Hitting out at the opposition for its moves, he said, “Opposition parties are opposing the Narendra Modi govt for the sake of opposition, forgetting their work in the past. In its 2019 poll manifesto, Congress promised to repeal APMC Act and make trade of agriculture produce including export free from all restrictions.”
Amid the rising farmers’ agitation, which has led to as many as seven borders to shut down in Delhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came in support of the farmers.
“We support all the demands of farmers. Their issues and demands are valid. My party and I have stood with them from the very beginning. At the beginning of their protests, Delhi Police had sought permission to convert nine stadiums into jails. I was pressurized but didn’t permit,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Attacking Kejriwal, Prasad said that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi had notified and implemented the new laws on November 23.
“Here you are protesting and there you are including it in the gazette,” he said while referring to Kejriwal’s support to the farmers. The Delhi CM earlier today visited the Singhu border where he met the protesting farmers and reviewed arrangements made for them by the city government.
Over a dozen opposition parties including the Congress have announced to support the Bharat Bandh call on December 8 given by the farm unions to protest against the three farm laws.
Source: http://www.indianewsnetwork.com/
