New Delhi, February 3
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday demanded that the government withdraw the three contentious farm laws over which the farmers have been agitating for the past over two months and urged it not to make it a prestige issue.
The government and opposition reached an agreement over a discussion on farm laws and arrived at a consensus to discuss the issues relating to farmers’ protest for 15 hours as part of the Motion of Thanks to the President’s speech to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
Azad led the opposition benches to highlight the plights of farmers in the country.
While demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, Azad said there could be nothing greater than if Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present in Rajya Sabha at that time, himself announced the decision of the government on the floor of the House.
The Congress leader also asked the Prime Minister to form a committee to look for “people who went missing after Republic Day violence”. He went on to say: “We condemn what happened on January 26, particularly at the Red Fort. But please ensure innocent farmers’ leaders are not implicated or it will lead to another agitation.”
Azad also highlighted the sedition cases being registered against Congress MP Shahi Tharoor and senior journalists of the country. He said, “Tharoor is a former external affairs Minister and how can he be anti-national. Journalists are integral to democracy and by implicating them we would be weakening our democracy.”
The Leader of Opposition said he and his party always stand with the government on issues relating to China and Pakistan. “The entire country stands with PM Modi on China but farmers are not our enemies. Request that the farm laws be withdrawn,” he said while invoking several of the past farmers’ protests including those during the British era where the then government had to concede to the demands. They included indigo movement and Kheda Satyagraha, which were led by Mahatma Gandhi
Azad also recalled a farmers’ agitation in Delhi’s Boat Club by Rakesh Tikait’s father Mahendra Singh Tikait in 1988 and how the then ruling Congress party changed its rally venue in favour of them.
Rajya Sabha on Wednesday agreed to allocate 15 hours to discuss the ongoing farmers’ protest over the three contentious farm laws.
Question Hour will be suspended from Thursday and beginning Friday, Zero Hour and Question Hour will be suspended to extend the time allotted for discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s address.
The extended time of five hours will be used for a discussion on farmers’ issues.
The House was adjourned breifly due to disruptions caused by AAP Members Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and ND Gupta just when Chairman Venkaiah Naidu allowed discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s address after the Zero Hour.
Naidu named the three Members under Rule 255 of the House which entails them to withdraw from the House. However, they did not relent and continued sloganeering demanding withdrawal of the farm laws.
