New laws not just anti-farmer, but against middle class, true patriots and youth, says Pilot

JAIPUR: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday criticised three farm laws passed by the centre government saying that the laws would not just hit farmers in the country, but also some other sections of society.

“A big crisis has come; farmers and all have to understand that the three farm laws by GOI (Government of India) are not just anti-farmers, but against the middle class, youth and true patriots,” he said, while addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Chaksu’s Kotkhawada area (Jaipur).

He said the entire country is in support of the farmers, who are protesting against the three farm laws for the last three months.

In the mahapanchayat, attended by over a dozen legislators, a resolution was passed to press the Centre to repeal the three farm laws; provide legal backing to the purchase of crops on minimum support price (MSP); reduce prices of petrol, diesel and gas.

Pilot said, “In a democracy, people are most powerful and through this mahapanchayat, we want to warn the GOI that the youth and farmers are united. The people of 36 communities have taken an oath

that all will stand united against the steps taken against farmers.”

He added, “Farmers don’t need sympathy, they need support. They aren’t begging, but asking for their rights. The GOI assured of doubling income, but has it happened? But such laws have been made that our children will run from pillar to post. They (the centre) are misleading with the claim of doing it in the interest of the farmer; there is no one to listen to farmers in central government.”

He said Congress leaders will have taken an oath to put pressure on GOI in Gandhian manner, in and outside the parliament.

Earlier this month, Pilot had addressed a mahapanchayat in Dausa and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan, organised by the MLAS who supported him during the last year’s political crisis in the state Congress.

In the mahapanchayat, organised by MLA Ved Prakash Solanki in Chaksu, over a dozen party MLA sat with Pilot on the dais. “The invite to participate in the mahapanchayat was also made to the CM and state party chief, but they chose not to attend. The presence of over a dozen MLAS is sending a clear political message that all’s still not well (in the state Congress),” said a senior party leader, on condition of anonymity.

BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the farm laws are in the interest of the farmers, this should be understood by the protesting farmers. Leaving two states, the majority of farmers of other states are in favour of the laws. The protesting farmers should adopt a positive approach and think over GOI proposal, and call off the protest. “The Congress leaders stop misguiding the farmers,” he said.