Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Narendra Modi government had defamed every section of society except his capitalist friends as the Congress expressed shock at the establishment’s apathy towards the agitating farmers in this biting cold.
Rahul tweeted: “For Modi Government: Dissenting students are anti-nationals. Concerned citizens are urban Naxals. Migrant labourers are Covid carriers. Rape victims are nobody. Protesting farmers are Khalistani. And crony capitalists are best friends.”
Rahul has been attacking the Prime Minister for pursuing a “pro-rich policy” and repeatedly asserted that the new farm laws are designed to facilitate a corporate takeover of agriculture.
Party leaders on Tuesday held a massive demonstration at the BJP’s headquarters in Delhi to protest against the new farm laws. The Punjab Congress had on Monday protested against the Union ministers maligning the farmers by alleging Khalistani and Maoist links with the movement.
The Congress tweeted: “The food-giver is being called traitor and terrorist. The dictatorial sultanate has crossed all the limits of arrogance to insult the farmers.”
Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted, recalling how the farmers of Bardoli had fought against British threats and coercion under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
She said: “On Patel’s death anniversary, the Modi government should be reminded that farmers are not frightened by false propaganda and threats.”
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also took strong objection to the attempts to discredit the peaceful movement and asked the central government to accept the demands of the farmers.
Police barricades at the Tikri border to keep the farmers out of Delhi Prem Singh
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram tweeted: “It is shocking that after 20 days of farmers’ protests in the bitter winter of Delhi, the government continues to stick to the ‘no repeal’ stand.
“It is obvious that any agreement between farmers and government will necessarily require a new bill to be passed in Parliament. The simple way forward is to repeal the present laws and re-enact a new law based on the agreement. Repeal and re-enactment is a well-known legislative tool. The government should climb down from its high horse and reach an agreement with the farmers quickly.”
The government has already announced that there would be no winter session of Parliament, demonstrating its intent to stick to the laws no matter how big the farmers’ protest become. Temperatures also dipped in Delhi on Tuesday, making staying in the open extremely difficult, but farmers said that thousands were on way to join them.
The Congress, which demanded an immediate calling of a Parliament session, described the move to skip winter session as another blow to democracy.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “Modi ji, decimation of ‘parliamentary democracy’ is complete. NEET/JEE exams can be held during Covid. Schools can be opened, universities can hold exams. Rallies can be held in Bihar-Bengal. But winter session of Parliament can’t be held. Any semblance of democracy left?”
The Congress ran a campaign on Twitter under the tagline — The year it should have been — recalling how the Prime Minister mishandled the pandemic, the economy, the lockdown, the Chinese intrusions and women’s safety throughout the year.