PRESIDENT BACKS NEW LAWS, OPPN BOYCOTTS HIS SPEECH

NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday told Parliament that the Union government “has always respected freedom of expression and holding of peaceful agitations in a democratic set-up”, days after a tractor rally by farm unions led to violence and chaos in the national capital, and in a strong defence for the new farm laws, said the benefits of the pieces of legislation, aimed at helping small and marginal farmers, have already started reaching over 100 million farmers.

Kovind’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parlia

ment in a half-empty Central Hall was met with boycott by 18 parties supporting the farmers’ agitation. Congress MP Ravneet Bittu was the only member from any of those parties to enter Central Hall for a few minutes during the speech — he raised slogans protesting against the government’s handling of the farmer agitation. The President, without naming China, also said that attempts were made to challenge the country’s capability at the border and to “disrupt the peace at the LAC in utter disregard of bilateral relations and agreements” but security forces “foiled all attempts to change the status quo at the border”.

He also spoke about the initiatives to make India “atmanirbhar”, or self-reliant, and about how India fought back against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The speech — that is approved by the Union Cabinet — sharply focused on the ongoing farm protests, and a sizeable chunk of it was on the Modi government’s farmer welfare goals.

President Kovind referred to the violent incidents on Republic Day and said, “The recent acts of dishonouring the National Flag and showing disrespect to the auspicious occasion of the Republic Day are unfortunate. While the Constitution gives us the right to freedom of expression it is also expected that we abide by the laws and rules with equal sincerity.” The President maintained that Parliament approved the “important farm reform” bills “after extensive consultation”. “The benefits of these three important farm reforms have started reaching more than 10 crore small farmers instantly. Appreciating the advantages that these reforms would bring to the small farmers, several political parties too had, from time to time, expressed their support,” he said.

“My government holds in high esteem the values of democracy and sanctity of the Constitution. It is continuously making efforts to dispel the misunderstanding created in the context of these laws,” said Kovind, indicating the government’s willingness to engage with the farmers.

The Opposition, however, disagreed with this contention. Hours later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a media briefing: “The first law destroys the agricultural markets, second one allows unlimited storage of grain that will make it practically impossible for our farmers to negotiate their prices, and the third law basically says that if the farmers have grievance they cannot go to court.”

The Opposition has also maintained the farm bills were given a hasty passage without consultations, but Kovind said “the discussions over these farm reforms in every part of the country for over two decades and the demand for these reforms at different fora were also reflected during the deliberations in the House”.

The President also hailed India’s military capabilities as he noted how attempts were made to challenge the country’s capability at the border at a time when the country was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

“...our security forces not only responded to these machinations with promptitude, force and courage, but also foiled all attempts to change the status quo at the border,” he said. “The restraint, valour and courage displayed by our jawans deserve utmost praise... Every citizen is deeply indebted to these martyrs,” the President said.