Farmers' protest: NCP chief Sharad Pawar hits out at Maharashtra governor - they will not keep quiet until the new farm acts and the ruling party are destroyed

Bhagat Singh Koshyari headed to Goa at a time when peasants from the state were to submit a memorandum against the new farm laws

A boy perched on the bonnet of a tractor at Delhi’s Ghazipur border a day before the Kisan Parade rolls into the capital on Republic Day. The writing on the bumper says: “Cute boys have arrived, Modi your guests have arrived.”: Picture by Prem Singh

PTI   |   Mumbai   |    26.01.21 : The Centre may pass any law undermining the Constitution on the back of its majority, but once the common man and farmers rise, they will not keep quiet until the new farm acts and the ruling party are destroyed, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday.

Addressing a rally organised here to express solidarity with the farmers agitating near Delhi, Pawar also hit out at Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for heading to Goa at a time when peasants from the state were to submit a memorandum against the new farm laws. 

Pawar alleged that Koshyari, who is also the Goa governor, had time to meet Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut after the BMC last year demolished parts of her office here, but has no time for farmers. 

The former Union agriculture minister accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not enquiring about the condition of farmers agitating near Delhi’s borders against the farm laws for two months now in cold weather. 

Maharashtra revenue minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah and others also addressed the rally held at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

A child at the Azad Maidan rally in Mumbai against the Centre’s three new farm laws holds up a poster that says: “Shame on the anti-farmer laws.” : (PTI)

“You may pass any law undermining the Constitution, not keeping in with the reputation of Parliament and destroying the parliamentary system on the back of your majority.

But remember one thing, once the common man and farmers of the country rise, whether you withdraw the laws or not, they will not keep quiet until they destroy you and the law,” Pawar said. 

Pawar alleged that the farm laws were passed without detailed discussion in Parliament despite the Opposition parties demanding deliberations on the bills concerned. The bills could have been discussed by a select committee, but it did not happen, he said. 

“...People (leaders from Opposition) opposed it. But the laws were declared passed without discussion. This is the insult of the Constitution,” he alleged.

He said the farmers’ fight is not easy as those who are in power are not affectionate towards the protesters. Pawar hailed the farmers from Punjab for their contribution in the country’s freedom struggle and protecting it during the wars against China and Pakistan post-Independence. “It has been 60 days since the farmers from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are protesting near Delhi. Did the country’s PM enquire about (the farmers)? It was mentioned that the farmers are from Punjab. Does Punjab mean Pakistan?” Pawar asked. 

“We have not seen such a governor in the history of Maharashtra. Lakhs of people have come here (at Azad Maidan). They were to submit a memorandum to the governor.

But the governor has gone to Goa. He has time to meet Kangana, but not my farmer,” Pawar alleged. 

The NCP chief said it was the moral responsibility of the governor to meet the farmers, but Koshyari did not fulfil his duty. But he does not have that courtesy. He should have at least sat in the Raj Bhavan, Pawar charged on Twitter later.

However, the Raj Bhavan later clarified that the representatives of the Samyukta Shetkari Morcha, which organised the rally, were informed in advance that the governor would not be able to meet the delegation on Monday as he would be in Goa to address its Assembly.

Thorat termed the farmers’ agitation near Delhi as unprecedented. The farm laws are for capitalists, hoarders and profiteers. the laws were passed without discussion, the Maharashtra minister alleged. Thorat claimed there will be no MSP (minimum support price) and market committees (APMCs) once the farm laws are implemented. 

The Congress leader said the Maharashtra government wants to pass laws which will be in the interest of farmers. 

No Shiv Sena leader or minister was seen at the rally, but the farmers’ bodies claimed the ruling party had extended its support to the agitation. 

The Shiv Sena heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in which the Congress and the NCP are partners. 

The new agri laws seek to encourage private trade, contract farming and remove stock limit on foodgrains. The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would leave them at the mercy of big corporates.

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/farmers-protest-ncp-chief-sharad-pawar-hits-out-at-maharashtra-governor/cid/1804746)