The Congress on Monday described the seventh round of talks between the Centre and the farmers' union as a “true test of nationalism” and warned that “no government can face the wrath of farmers”.
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram quoted Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar, who wrote about 2,000 years ago, to say “if farmers fold their hands, even a person who has renounced life cannot survive”.
“How true it is today. No government can face the wrath of farmers who believe they are being deceived,” Mr. Chidambaram tweeted as a fresh round of talks got underway.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared a two-minute video of tear gas shells being fired at farmers on her Twitter handle and claimed that nearly 60 farmers had lost their lives during the agitation because of the “government's arrogance”.
“On one hand, the government is calling farmers for talks and on the other it is hurling tar gas shells at them in this chilling winter cold. Around 60 farmers have lost their lives due to this arrogant and cruel behaviour of the government. How can farmers trust this cruel government,” she asked in a tweet in Hindi.
“Today is the true test of ‘Nationalism’. Will Modi Government act in ‘National Interest’ or ‘Crony Corporate Interest’,” tweeted asked Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is out of the country, also tweeted to highlight the plight of the farmers.
Sharing some pictures of agitating farmers who are battling the winter chill for the past 40 days, he said, “Those sitting under the dripping tents in the winter rains are our own fearless farmers and not strangers. There is nothing more left to be seen as far as the government's brutality on farmers is concerned.”
The Congress has been demanding the repeal of the three farm laws whose enactment has triggered a massive protest by farmers.
On Sunday, while party chief Sonia Gandhi asked the government to unconditionally withdraw the bills, senior leader Anand Sharma had asked the Supreme Court to intervene.
“High time that the Supreme Court makes a effective intervention as Custodian of the Constitution . It is over two weeks since it gave a glimmer of hope by promising to set up an impartial panel for negotiations. The farm laws must be suspended until an acceptable solution is reached and the Petitions by State government's and farmers challenging the Constitutionality of Farm laws are decided. Kicking the bucket down the road only hurts the course of justice,” Mr. Sharma had said.
Published - January 04, 2021 03:23 pm IST
