On Friday, Congress demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invite farmers to the negotiation table and accept their demand to legally secure the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce, urging legislation of this nature be brought in during the current winter session of Parliament. Addressing the press, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala accused the government of being "anti-farmer," highlighting their lack of attention to farmers' voices, and insisted that they should have the freedom to come to Delhi for discussions to resolve their complaints and grievances.
Surjewala said, "We urge the Prime Minister to invite farmers for dialogue and, upon reaching consensus, pass a law to legally support MSP. An appropriate bill must be introduced and passed during this winter session of Parliament."
He criticized the Prime Minister by stating, "The PM finds time to watch movies, yet has no time to meet farmers."
According to Surjewala, instead of engaging with farmers and addressing their demands, the government has resorted to creating barriers and obstacles, like placing spikes, to prevent them from reaching Delhi.
Accusations of Misleading Statements to Parliament
Accusing the government of making misleading statements in Parliament, Surjewala claimed farmers' entire produce was bought on MSP, asserting this was far from reality. He stated that Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan evaded a direct question in Parliament regarding MSP's legal status, deceiving the nation with incorrect information. The Congress leader alleged that BJP-led states, in written communication to the CACP Commission, acknowledged that farmers' production costs in their regions exceeded those listed by the commission, thus denying them MSP for their yields.
Surjewala questioned why farmer debts worth two to three lakh crores couldn't be forgiven if corporate taxes could be reduced. Expressing solidarity with farmer demands, he vowed Congress’s support for them. Regarding farmer protests, Surjewala questioned, "Is there a ban on people coming to Delhi? Is this the new normal for New India, preventing entry into the capital? Everyone should be allowed into Delhi." Criticizing the precautions taken to impede farmers, he mentioned, "Such three-tier security should have been along the Chinese border."
'Why Can't Farmers Come to Delhi Seeking Justice?'
He implored the government not to push farmers into situations like Manipur's. Surjewala queried, "Why can't farmers come to Delhi to seek justice? Why are they being stopped? We will continue raising farmer issues in Parliament. Just two days ago, Congress MPs, led by Sonia Gandhi, walked out of the Rajya Sabha raising farmers’ concerns. We will remain steadfast in Parliament on this issue, but corruption, such as Adani's, will also be spotlighted."
When asked if Rahul Gandhi would meet the farmers if they weren't allowed in Delhi, Surjewala remarked, "Congress does not wish to politicize this. Wherever injustice occurs, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge Ji will appear. This is not about politics but the nation's food security."
