Opposition wants repeal of agri laws, seeks probe into R-Day violence

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

The Opposition parties on Friday slammed the Centre on the three contentious farm laws, demanding their repeal.

They demanded a time-bound judicial probe, headed by sitting a Supreme Court judge, into the violence on R-Day. Putting up a stout defence, BJP members said they aimed to reform the farm sector.

They were upfront in appreciating the government’s performance under the leadership of Modi. Taking part in the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Anand Sharma of the Congress said the current impasse on the laws was due to the “rigidity” of the government in continuing with them.

Agriculture is a “state” subject and the Centre enacting farm laws is legally questionable. Also, the laws were passed in the Upper House in an undemocratic manner.

Sharma, however, lauded the country’s successful resolve to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, especially manufacturing of the two indigenous vaccines.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI, Praful Patel of the NCP and SC Mishra of the BSP among others also demanded withdrawal of the laws. BJP’s Vinay Sahasrabuddhe flayed the Opposition parties for calling the government “arrogant”. He rubbished allegations that the government was not talking to the farmers. “The government has assured that it will put implementation of the laws on hold for one-and-half years.Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut alleged that anyone speaking the truth is dubbed as an “anti-national” and that cases of sedition are slapped against those criticising the government. “When the farmers are uniting and fighting for their rights, you see anti-national acts. They are not anti-nationals. Till the time this movement is alive, the nation will remain alive and this ‘andolan’,” he said.— Agencies

Be a statesman, Meet farmers: Bajwa to PM

• Congress MP from Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday sought time-bound judicial probe into R-Day violence.
• He asked PM Narendra Modi to grab the opportunity to become a statesman of the stature of Sardar Patel by going to Delhi borders to meet the farmers and repealing the laws.

Lekhi seeks LS debate on India’s defamation

• BJP MP from New Delhi on Friday gave a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding a short discussion on attempts to defame India through internationalisation of farmers’ protests.
• Lekhi has given the notice under Rule 193 which allows discussions on matters of urgent importance.

Stop calling farmers terrorists: Dhindsa

• SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said the PM Modi should intervene and listen to the farmers.
• Highlighting the sacrifice made by Sikhs during the freedom struggle, he said they were being described as terrorists and Khalistanis.