Addressing the media in New Delhi, senior party leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Congress' 'double standards' have been exposed as it is opposing the new laws. Prasad referred to the party's 2019 manifesto wherein the Congress had promised to repeal/amend the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC).
"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 are losing polls, they take part in any protest for the sake of their existence," he said.
He said that the opposition parties are "opposing the Narendra Modi government for the sake of opposition, forgetting their own work in the past".
Prasad said that when NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar, who is also opposing the Centre's farm laws, was Union agriculture minister, had written to all Chief Ministers of states seeling 'private sector participation' in market infrastructure.
Attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Prasad said that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi already implemented the new laws on November 23.
"Here you are protesting and there you are removing the gazette," he said while referring to Kejriwal's support to the farmers. The Delhi CM earlier today visited the Singh border where he met the protesting farmers and reviewed arrangements made for them by the city government.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath slams Congress and other opposition parties for showing double standards
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath slammed the opposition for misleading the farmers over new agriculture laws. Yogi said Some political parties are trying to spoil the atmosphere, especially the present stand taken by them on the model APMC Act shows their double standards:
Congress is spreading misinformation and misleading the farmers over the new Farm Laws. Opposition parties are trying to disrupt law and order in the country, Yogi Adityanath added.
Further UP CM said Akali Dal, TMC, and Mulayam Singh had supported the APMC Act but now they are showing double standards. Those who are supporting the Bharat Bandh on 8th Dec should apologize to the farmers for misleading them over the Farm Laws.
CM Yogi bragged that the NDA government has taken revolutionary steps for the benefit of farmers. Crop Insurance Scheme, PM Agricultural Irrigation Scheme, has done the work of linking farming with technology. Along with this, through the ‘One Nation One Market’, the work of selling the produce of farmers has been done.
Opposition parties support Bharat Bandh
Opposition parties, including many regional outfits, on Sunday, came out in strong support of the 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8 called by farmer unions which have been protesting on Delhi's borders for 11 days demanding the repeal of the Centre's new agri-marketing laws. Prominent leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK chief M K Stalin and PAGD chairman Farooq Abdullah also issued a joint statement backing the proposed day-long strike and pressed the Centre to meet the legitimate demands of the protesters.