Repealing laws only solution: Rahul

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday told protesting farmers to “not retract even an inch” from their positions at their site of the stir against the contentious farm laws and demanded the Union government talk to them quickly to resolve the impasse which has been going on since November last year.

Gandhi made the remarks hours after the Congress and Opposition parties boycotted President Ram Nath Kovind’s speech in Parliament on the first day of the budget session.

The former Congress president said that his party was in favour of reforms in the Indian agriculture sector but consultations with farmers are must before pushing the laws.

Gandhi, who joined the Opposition MPS’ protests at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament complex, claimed that the farmers are angry that “5-6 people have everything and now (are) taking away” their future.

“I want to tell the farmers, don’t retract even by an inch. These laws will be a shock for the middle class too as food prices will skyrocket. The government needs to talk to the farmers. The only solution is to repeal these laws and put it in the wastepaper basket,” he said, adding that his “15 years experience in politics” tells him that the agitation will spread further.

The BJP, however, accused him of declaring “war” on the Indians and giving a call for “violence”.

“Never before in our democratic history have we witnessed a political leader asking for the fire of violence to spread instead of seeking and promoting peace,” Union minister Smriti Irani was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

On Thursday, 16 political parties had announced to boycott the President’s customary address to the joint sitting of Parliament. They were later joined by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Akali Dal.

“We didn’t see any relevance in attending the President’s address. These laws are as if theft is being committed with 60% of India’s population,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi also argued that if the government is ready to shelve the laws for one-and-a-halfyears, “why can’t you withdraw them right now and then bring it back after talking to the farmers.”

Reacting to the above claims, Irani alleged that the Congress leader wanted the violence that the national capital witnessed earlier this week to be replicated across the country.