Team Herald
PANJIM: Opposition parties in Goa on Friday said it was the victory of the farmers after Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to repeal the three farm laws. However, the ruling BJP claimed that the Prime Minister’s announcement was an example of a responsible government.
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Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) MP and Goa in-charge Mahua Moitra said that TMC was the first party to demand repealing of three controversial farm laws. The Prime Minister and the BJP leaders were claiming that that the new legislations were good and were accusing the opposition of instigating farmers to oppose the laws.
Moitra said that the decision to repeal the three farm laws was taken keeping an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections in five States, and particularly the 70 seats in western Uttar Pradesh. “The brain has started moving. I am grateful to protesting farmers. This victory is theirs,” she said.
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram said that the fear of losing the forthcoming Assembly polls in five States compelled Modi to repeal the three farm laws.
The decision had been taken only keeping the upcoming Assembly polls in five States in mind, he said and alleged that it was just an election stunt.
“After suffering massive defeats in by-elections in Himachal Pradesh and losing several seats in other States Assembly by-polls including Karnataka and Rajasthan, the BJP has got feedback that they will lose the upcoming Assembly elections and that is the reason that the Union government has decided to repeal the laws. Only three weeks back, the Prime Minister had castigated opposition and farmers on the issue. Modi does not believe in consultations, discussions, and Parliamentary debates,” he charged.
He added, “This government does not fear democracy, nor does it fear Parliament. It only fears elections.” Chidambaram said that just three weeks ago the Prime Minister had said that those who oppose the farm laws were anti-national.
He pointed out that the Prime Minister had not condemned the Lakhimpuri incident yet in which farmers were killed.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said he was happy that God opened the eyes of the Prime Minister and it happened on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“Outside Parliament, people mostly farmers have been crying, shouting and dying. The Prime Minister never opened his eyes, because he gets affected by nothing. Even in Parliament, whatever voice the opposition raises, Modi doesn’t care. He goes ahead. The same thing he did with these three controversial farm laws,” Sardinha said.
He added, “Finally we are happy that democracy has won. The voices of people have won and Modi has cancelled these three agrarian laws.”
Bharartiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade hailed Modi’s decision to repeal the three farm laws.
Claiming that the three agrarian laws were enacted in the interest of farmers so as to give a better deal to their produce and improve their economic conditions, Tanavade said that farmers were misled and started the protest demanding that the three legislations be withdrawn.
“The Prime Minister’s decision to withdraw the three laws is an example of responsible government,” he said.
