Congress Responds to Calls for Farm Law Reinstatement

Kharge’s Strong Critique

On Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized the BJP after MP Kangana Ranaut advocated for reinstating the three farm laws repealed in 2021. He emphasized that states preparing for elections, particularly Haryana, would respond decisively to such positions from the ruling party.

Ranaut’s Retraction

Subsequently, Ranaut retracted her comments. She clarified that her statements reflected her personal views and did not represent the party’s stance. In a video shared by Congress on X, she said in Hindi, “The farm laws that have been repealed should be reinstated. I know this might stir controversy.”

Moreover, she insisted that laws benefiting farmers should be brought back and urged farmers themselves to demand this for their own prosperity. Ranaut underscored the importance of farmers as a pillar of India’s progress, acknowledging that objections had only arisen in a few states.

Election Implications

In direct response, Kharge condemned the discussion surrounding the reinstatement of what he termed the “three black anti-farmer laws.” He stated, “Despite the martyrdom of 750 farmers, the anti-farmer BJP and Modi government fail to recognize their grave crime.” He firmly asserted that the Congress Party opposes any move to bring back these laws.

Additionally, Kharge pointed out that the 62 crore farmers in India have not forgotten the harsh treatment they received during protests. The use of vehicles, barbed wire, and tear gas against peaceful protesters remains a painful memory. Thus, he stressed that election-bound states, especially Haryana, would react strongly to the Prime Minister’s previous derogatory remarks, where he called farmers “andolanjeevi” and “parasites.”

Unfulfilled Promises

Kharge also highlighted the Modi government’s failure to fulfill key promises made to farmers over the past decade. These include doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and providing a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) as per the Swaminathan Report. He noted, “When the farmers’ agitation ended, Modi ji announced a government committee, but it remains in cold storage.”

Clearly, the Modi government opposes the legal guarantee of MSP, leaving farmers in a vulnerable position.

Lack of Relief and Recognition

Furthermore, Kharge criticized the lack of relief for the families of farmers who died during protests. He pointed out that the Modi government did not even observe a moment of silence for them in Parliament. This neglect highlights an “anti-farmer hateful mindset” that Kharge argues is pervasive within the BJP.

Congress Rallying Support

Ranaut‘s remarks prompted further responses from the Congress. Supriya Shrinate declared, “We will never let that happen. Haryana will respond first,” referring to the upcoming assembly polls in the state.

Additionally, Congress shared the video on X. He labeled it the BJP’s “true thinking” and questioned, “How many times will you deceive the farmers, you two-faced people?” in a post in Hindi on Tuesday.

The Repealed Laws

The three laws in question—the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act—were repealed in November 2021.

Farmers began protesting in late November 2020. Ultimately, their movement concluded with the repeal of these laws, which had initially been enacted in June 2020.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Congress party maintains a strong stance in support of farmers. They assert, “These black laws will never return, no matter how hard Narendra Modi and his MPs try.” The party’s unwavering commitment to farmers remains clear as they prepare for the upcoming electoral battles.