Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws, Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi said that the announcement was made as Modi senses defeat in the upcoming Assembly elections and had started realising the reality of the country, that it has been built by the farmers.
"Six hundred farmers martyred, more than 350 days of struggle, Narendra Modi ji your minister's son crushed farmers to death, you didn't care. Your party leaders insulted farmers and called them terrorists, traitors, goons, miscreants, you yourself called them andolanjeevi, beat them with sticks, arrested them."Priyanka Gandhi
"Now, sensing defeat in polls, you have suddenly started to realise the reality of this country — this country has been built by farmers, it is a country of farmers, they are the real protectors of the country and no government can run the country by trampling upon the interests of farmers," she tweeted in Hindi.
The three contentious farm laws, introduced in September 2020, allowed farmers, among other things, to directly sell their produce outside government-regulated wholesale markets.
Since then, thousands of farmers have been camping on major highways to Delhi and across the country voicing their opposition to the laws.
"Our government is committed to farmers' welfare, especially small farmers. We are committed to serve them fully. We brought in farm laws with good intentions," said Modi.
'A Victory Against Injustice': Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi,Congress Leaders Laud Farmers
"A victory against injustice," said Congress President Rahul Gandhi as he lauded the relentless efforts by the farmers of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 19 November, urged protesters to return to their homes stating that the three farm laws brought in last year, to liberalise India’s agriculture markets, will be repealed.
"The satyagraha by the farmers of the country has made arrogance bow its head. Congratulations on the victory against injustice! Jai Hind!"Rahul Gandhi
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi in a statement on repeal of three farm laws said, "Today, the sacrifices of more than 700 farmer families, whose members laid down their lives in this struggle for justice, have paid off. Today, truth, justice, and non-violence have won."
Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the withdrawal of the farm laws is "in the right direction" and called it a "historic success" of the farmers' protests.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala welcomed the Centre's decision and appealed to the farmers to end the protest.
"We welcome the Centre's decision to repeal the farm laws on the occasion of Gurpurab. This is a commendable step for the reinstatement of peace and harmony in society. I appeal to all farmer organisations to end their protest."Dushyant Chautala, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister
Former Union Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram took a jibe at PM's announcement, stating on Twitter: “What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections!“
Welcoming the PM’s decision, Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Raut on Friday also alleged that the Centre decided to roll back the laws due to a fear of defeat in the upcoming Assembly polls, reported ANI.
"Today the government has to withdraw all three agricultural laws. They have been withdrawn because of politics. Still, I welcome the decision. However, these laws have been withdrawn due to the fear of defeat in the elections of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. There was pressure on the government and in the end, the farmers have won," reported ANI, quoting Raut.
Reacting to the repeal of farm laws, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said that “it was not right to bring in any new measure related to farm laws”.
“As a Union Agriculture Minister for 10 years, I had made this commitment on farm issue, which is a state subject, that without taking all stakeholders into confidence, it was not right to bring in any new measure related to farm laws,” reported ANI, quoting Pawar.
CMs Banerjee, Kejriwal Laud Farmers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal also lauded the farmers who fought relentlessly.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the farmers' protest as "one of the brightest chapters in the history of class struggles."
'Farmers Victory, Country's Victory'
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the move was an example of democracy.
"This is also a good example of why one nation one election is a bad idea. Ruling party at the Union should be held democratically accountable throughout its term, and state assembly elections serve that purpose. Supreme leader realised that Billionaires didn’t come to his help," he said in a statement.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav tweeted that a farmer's victory was a country's victory.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia congratulated the farmers for their relentless efforts. "Your one year long non-violent movement forced the autocratic government to bow down. The central government had to finally bow before the martyrdom of hundreds of farmers. The government should also apologise to the families of those farmers whose lives have been lost in the movement against these laws," he tweeted.
BJP Leaders Laud PM Modi's "Remarkable Statesmanship"
Welcoming the announcement, BJP National President JB Nadda on Twitter noted that PM Modi made the announcement on Gurpurab and that the “decision will create an atmosphere of brotherhood in the entire country”.
Home Minister Amit Shah said that PM Modi’s decision is a “statesmanlike move”.
Calling the move “historic”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed regret that farmers could not be convinced despite the Centre’s efforts.
Tweeting in Hindi, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij asked farmers outfits to end the protest and express gratitude towards PM Modi.
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