NEW DELHI: BJP on Monday attacked Congress and other opposition parties for protesting against the new farm laws and said their actions were opportunistic and driven by mounting desperation due to losing elections. Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress’ “double standards” were exposed as the party’s 2019 manifesto had clearly promised to amend the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) law.
“Opposition parties have jumped into the issue but during UPA rule, they did exactly what the Modi government is doing today for reforms in the farm sector. Now that they are losing elections, they take part in any protest for the sake of their existence,” he said.
Prasad said opposition parties were misleading farmers and people over agriculture sector reforms, adding that the Centre was committed to the welfare and well-being of farmers. “Our government, through laws related to agriculture sector reforms, has been finding ways to improve the lives of farmers and to make them more progressive and give more opportunities to prosper and grow,” he said.
“The fact is that agriculture sector reform laws are in the best interests of our farmers,” he added.
He said opposition parties were losing their relevance and getting sidelined, and were trying to create a fake narrative and try to build a false movement. “We have seen this time and again, be it at the time of pro-Section 370 protests, anti-CAA protests and protests at Shaheen Bagh,” he added.
Prasad said ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress had promised to repeal the APMC Act.