It’s win of farmers and democracy over ego: Akhilesh Yadav on repeal of farm laws

LUCKNOW: Congratulating the farmer community for their relentless historical protest which compelled the Centre to announce the rollback of the three ‘black farm laws’, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday that the government may bring back the laws once the assembly elections get over.
He described the development as “Ahankaar ki haar … kisano aur loktantra ki jeet” (Victory of farmers and democracy over ago).
“BJP is eyeing the vote of the farmers and not bothered about their well-being. Samajwadi Party demands that the government should bring in a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP), but it will not because they (BJP government) are not interested in the prosperity of farmers. These farm laws were drafted in favour of corporate houses,” he said as an e-banner with “Saaf nahi hai inka dil, chunav baad phir layenge bill (Their intentions are not clean, they will bring the farm bill again after polls),” written on it as a couplet fluttered in the backdrop.
Addressing a press conference in October, Akhilesh had announced that the ruling BJP was planning to withdraw the farm laws in wake of the assembly elections in UP and Punjab and would bring the farm bills again once the elections get over.
“The ruling BJP in the state and at the Centre were rattled by the massive and unprecedented support that Samajwadi Party got recently by the farmers and the people of Purvanchal and decided to repeal the black farm laws” he said, adding that they may introduce the bill again after polls. “Ye sirf vote ke liye dhokha hai (This is only a gimmick for votes),” he said.
Akhilesh took a jibe at the manner in which the government asked farmers to overlook the stalemate that continued on the issue on farm laws. “What about the families of hundreds of farmers who died during the protest … can that be overlooked and forgotten,” he asked.
Akhilesh attacked the government over the manner in which Union ministers had insulted and humiliated the protesting farmers. “The protesting farmers were called names which was grossly humiliating and insulting. The manner in which ministers insulted the farmers .. the entire (Union) Cabinet should take responsibility for it and the government must resign,” he said at the press conference at the party headquarters on Friday.
SP chief said the government had repealed the three ‘black farm laws’ but what about the guarantee that these laws will not be introduced again. “What about the criminal cases lodged against anyone and everyone who voiced their support to protesting farmers? FIRs were lodged against farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, farmers leaders and SP workers for supporting protest calls by agitating farmers. What about those FIRs?,” he said.