Firoz Rozindar

The announcement by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that his government will repeal the three farm laws in the coming Parliament Session, has sent a sense of joy among farmers and pro-farmer unions of the district who celebrated it as their victory on Friday. The farmer unions under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha have been holding protests in solidarity with the farmers protesting in Delhi and other parts of the country against the ‘black laws’. “Certainly, it is the victory of farmers of the country and every person in the world who has supported the protest against the three farms laws. The farmers have won after the longest protest held in the country against any farm law”, said Bhagwan Reddy, a veteran Communist leader. He said that all farmers and trade unions affiliated to the Communist party have been supporting the farmers’ protest from day one. Expressing happiness over the announcement, he however asserted that the Modi government has taken the decision not out of concern for farmers but because of the fear of losing elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. “Clearly, the BJP government is worried after losing Assembly polls after the setbacks in the recent byelections. The farmers played a critical role in the defeat of the BJP by opposing the party in these elections. The BJP does not wish to take any chances and lose the elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab where the farmers’ protest has become intense,’’ he said. Another farmer leader, Bhimshi Kaladagi echoed these sentiments and said that if the Modi government was really concerned about farmers, it should have withdrawn the laws long ago. “Everyone knows how farmers suffered during the protest. Over 700 farmers died during the stir. Instead of displaying concern for farmers, BJP leaders branded them terrorists, agents of Pakistan and Khalistanis. Every effort was made to suppress their voices”, he said.