Don’t Punish Farmers for R-Day Chaos: Oppn Leaders in Rajya Sabha

“Centre’s decision to put concrete walls at protest site won’t help,” HD Deve Gowda said.

Condemning the violence that took place on Republic Day, former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, on Thursday, 4 February, said that the farmers are not responsible for it and the Centre’s decision to put concrete walls at farmers’ protest sites won’t help.

(Photo: The Quint)

Condemning the violence that took place on Republic Day, former Prime Minister and JD(S) MP HD Deve Gowda, on Thursday, 4 February, said that the farmers are not responsible for it and the Centre’s decision to put concrete walls at farmers’ protest sites won’t help.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Deve Gowda, according to ANI, said:

“We condemn actions of certain miscreants on Republic Day, but farmers are not responsible for it. They should not be punished. Centre’s decision to put concrete walls at protest site won’t help. Government must end the matter peacefully.”   

Further, Deve Gowda pointed out that issues pertaining to farm laws, are a state subject. Therefore, Deve Gowda, according to ANI, said that state government’s opinion also has to be taken.

WHAT DEREK O’ BRIEN SAID

TMC MP Derek O’Brien, on his part, stated that the Centre has failed India at many levels.

“Government has failed India at many levels, it failed to uphold Parliament’s sanctity because of its arrogance. On September 20, 2020, seven MPs who stood for farmers were suspended. I stand in solidarity with the farmers who lost their lives.”   

Derek O’ Brien According to ANI   

According to PTI, O'Brien also pressed the government to repeal the three farm laws, and offered the 'Repealing Bill 2021' drafted by him for the purpose.

WHAT AAP’S SANJAY SINGH SAID

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh pointed out that farmers had been protesting for 76 days amid government apathy.

“Farmers are protesting for 76 days, they are being lathi-charged, called traitors, terrorists, Khalistanis. Talks happened 11 times, all failed, govt claims to be a call away, but doesn’t bother. About 165 farmers lost their lives.”

Sanjay Singh

“Have mercy and repeal 3 black laws,” Singh urged the government.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had on Wednesday asked Singh and two other AAP MPs – Sushil Kumar Gupta and ND Gupta – to 'withdraw' from the House for the day.

According to Hindustan Times, Singh had on Wednesday said, "We expressed our dissent in the House, we want repeal of three farm laws because talks won't help. Three of us have been suspended for a day.”

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

Lighter banter, too, ensued on Thursday, with Venkaiah Naidu inviting Congress’ Digvijaya Singh to speak, right after ex-Congress and present BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

As the RS erupted with laughter at this order of speeches, Naidu, according to TOI, said that he had not made any changes to the list and has invited people in the order that they have been named in the list.

Meanwhile, Singh said that he would like to congratulate Scindia, who had spoken in defence of the BJP government’s decision on lockdown and the welfare the party claims to have done for the farmers, as well as attacked the Congress Party.

Singh, according to TOI, said:

“I would like to congratulate Scindia ji. He has put forward the side of BJP today as brilliantly as he used to put forward the views of Congress in the past.”   

PREVIOUSLY

Earlier on Wednesday, addressing the members of the Rajya Sabha, Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Opposition stands with Prime Minister Narendra on China, but pointed out that “farmers our not our enemies” and had urged the Prime Minister to withdraw the farm laws.

Stating that what happened at the Red Fort should not have happened, Azad also sought that innocent farmer leaders not be implicated.