‘Even after the martyrdom of 750 farmers…’ Mallikarjun Kharge attacks BJP after Kangana’s remarks on farm laws | Mint

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday criticised the BJP after MP Kangana Ranaut’s comments in which she advocated re-implementation of the three farm laws that were repealed in 2021. He said states like Haryana that are gearing up for elections will give a befitting reply to the ruling party.

Also read: Congress questions Kangana Ranaut’s ‘intellectual bankruptcy’ after she takes a dig at Sonia Gandhi: ‘An illiterate person…’

Ranaut later withdrew her comments and expressed regret, clarifying that they were her personal views and did not reflect the party’s position.

The Congress on Tuesday shared a video on Twitter in which it said in Hindi, “The repealed farm laws should be brought back. I think this may be controversial. The laws should be brought back in the interest of farmers. Farmers themselves should demand it (repeal of farm laws) so that there is no hindrance to their prosperity.”

She said, “Farmers are the pillars of strength in India’s progress. It was only in a few states that they objected to the farm laws. I appeal with folded hands that the farm laws should be rolled back in the interest of farmers.”

Also read: ‘Kangana Ranaut has no right to…’: BJP slams actor-MP over remarks on farmers’ protest

Reacting to Ranaut’s remarks, Kharge said, “Even after the martyrdom of 750 farmers, the anti-farmer BJP and Modi government have not realised their grave crime! There is talk of re-implementing the three black anti-farmer laws. The Congress party strongly opposes this.”

62 crore farmers will not forget that the Modi government crushed farmers under vehicles, used barbed wires, tear gas from drones, nails and guns against them.

In a post written in Hindi, the Congress president said, “This time, the electoral states including Haryana will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister’s insulting remarks in Parliament calling farmers ‘agitators’ and ‘parasites’.”

Also read: ‘I take back my words…’, says Kangana Ranaut as she withdraws her comments on repealed farm laws after BJP’s disapproval

He alleged, “Due to Modiji’s statements, his ministers, MPs and propaganda machinery have become accustomed to insulting farmers.”

Kharge said, “In 10 years, the Modi government has broken three promises made to the food grain producers of the country – doubling farmers’ income by 2022, implementing MSP of 50% of input cost as per Swaminathan report and giving legal guarantee for MSP.”

He alleged, “When the farmers’ agitation was withdrawn, Modiji had announced a government committee, which is still in cold storage. The Modi government is against the legal guarantee of MSP.”

Kharge alleged that no relief was given to the families of the farmers who died and the Modi government did not even consider it appropriate to observe two minutes of silence in their memory in Parliament.

He said that apart from this, his character assassination is also going on continuously.

Also read: Kangana Ranaut’s big allegation: BJP MP claims- Congress government in Himachal gives loans to farmers…

He said the whole country has come to know that a “hateful anti-farmer mentality” exists in every section of the BJP.

The Congress on Tuesday, citing BJP MP Ranaut’s remarks on farm laws, had alleged that the ruling party was trying to bring back the three laws repealed in 2021 and said Haryana would give a befitting reply to it.

Congress posted the video in Hindi and said, “The three black laws imposed on farmers should be withdrawn: This was said by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. More than 750 farmers of the country were martyred, only then the Modi government woke up and these black laws were withdrawn.” Now BJP MPs are planning to bring back these laws, Congress alleged.

“Congress is with the farmers. These black laws will never be rolled back, no matter how hard Narendra Modi and his MPs try,” the opposition party had said on Twitter.

Also read: Kangana Ranaut urges withdrawal of controversial farm laws; Congress flags BJP’s ‘proxy’ move with Mandi MP

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate had also shared Ranaut’s video on Instagram, saying, “‘All three farm laws must be withdrawn’: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. Over 750 farmers have been martyred while protesting against the three black farm laws. Efforts are being made to bring them back.”

“We will never let this happen. Haryana will respond first,” he had said, in an apparent reference to the assembly elections in Haryana.

Congress media and publicity chief Pawan Khera also shared the video on Twitter and said this is the “real thinking” of the BJP.

Kheda had said in a post in Hindi on Tuesday, “Hard-faced people, how many times will you cheat the farmers?”

The three laws—the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agreement on Agricultural Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act—were repealed in November 2021.

Farmers began protests in late November 2020, which ended after Parliament repealed these laws. The law was enacted in June 2020 before being repealed in November 2021.