P Chidambaram, a senior Congress politician, claimed on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the move to repeal the farm rules without attending a Cabinet meeting, adding that laws are only made and unmade under the BJP.
The criticism by the Congress leader came a day after Modi announced the repeal of three agri-laws that had sparked a year of farmer protests in a national address.
“Home Minister hailed the PM’s announcement as showing ‘remarkable statesmanship’. BJP President said that PM has ‘immense care for farmers’. Defence Minister said that PM had taken the decision considering the ‘welfare of the farmers’. Where were these worthy leaders and their wise advice in the last 15 months?” Chidambaram said on Twitter.
Home Minister hailed the PM’s announcement as showing ‘remarkable statesmanship’
BJP President said that PM has ‘immense care for farmers’
Defence Minister said that PM had taken the decision considering the ‘welfare of the farmers’
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 20, 2021
“Did you notice that the Prime Minister made the announcement without conducting a Cabinet meeting?” said the former Union minister.
He continued, “It is only under the BJP that laws are created and unmade without previous Cabinet consent.”
Hundreds of farmers have been protesting and camped at Delhi’s borders since November, demanding the repeal of the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, as well as the creation of a new law that ensures MSP for crops.
The Centre, which has undertaken 11 rounds of formal engagement with farmers, has maintained that the new rules are pro-farmer, whilst demonstrators have alleged that the legislations will leave them vulnerable to corporate interests.
