New Delhi: At a time when farmers have taken to the streets again to push for a host of demands and are scheduled to march to Delhi on February 13, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed the previous contentious farm laws were rolled back by the Centre in the face of protest but not repealed. He further hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the withdrawal of the three farm laws was a ploy to make the protesters call off the agitation.
Addressing a gathering in Punjab’s Ludhiana, the Congress veteran said, “They placed the black farm laws under suspension in a bid to make the farmers call off the protest. Ye Modi ki chaal hain (This was a ploy by PM Modi). There has been no official notification yet that the laws have been repealed and won’t be introduced again.”
Coming out all guns blazing at the Centre, the Congress chief said the farm laws were aimed at extending benefits to their “crony capitalists”.
“As you all are aware, these farm laws were aimed at facilitating the transfer and purchase of agricultural land to the government’s corporate friends in the name of setting up industries. As there used to be rulers and emperors who held thousands of acres of land, so do some of the government’s capitalist friends today. They are the uncrowned emperors and land-grabbers today,” Kharge said.
The Congress leader further claimed that if the BJP-led NDA did not repeal these farm laws, his party would once it forms the government at the Centre.
“If they (Central government) do not repeal these three black farm laws, we will withdraw these legislations once we come to power in 2024,” Kharge added.