Don't make it prestige issue;repeal farm laws, draft afresh after consulting farmers: Pilot to Centre

Urging Centre t to make agri laws a "prestige issue", senior Congress leer Sachin Pilot on Thursday asserted that government must let go of its "stubbornness" to immediately repeal legislations, and said that when BJP could t convince its allies like Akali Dal and RLP on issue, how can it expect farmers to accept laws.

A day ahe of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to Rajasthan to raise voice of farmers against farm laws, he said that Centre should withdraw laws and after thorough consultation with farmers and states, come up with a new set of legislations which tillers would mselves want and is t something that is forced upon m.

In an interview with PTI, Pilot slammed BJP for stating that Congress h me a "U-turn" on farm laws, saying it was BJP which was prone to making 'U-turns', while his party was consistent on all issues.

While Congress supported agri reforms, it did t back laws which are "contrary to interest of farmers", said former Rajasthan deputy chief minister, who dressed two kisan panchayats in Dausa and Bharatpur recently, which saw a massive turut.

"First of all, y (BJP) me a U-turn on Ahaar, n on GST, MGNREGA, FDI and so many issues. Congress said we want to get new investments (in agri sector) and techlogical inputs, want more 'mandis', liberalise system, but never said we will make laws contrary to interest of farmers," he said.

Stressing that government should set aside its "ego'' and let go of its "stubbornness" to repeal laws, Pilot said almost all political parties and even BJP's allies - be it Akali Dal or Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) - opposed laws. Both Akali Dal and RLP quit BJP-led NDA, opposing farm laws brought in by government.

"y were t able to convince ir own NDA partners, how can y expect farmers to be convinced by se laws and accept m," Pilot said. "I don't think y should make it a prestige issue," former Rajasthan Congress chief said.

Asked if re could be a middle path or repeal of laws was only option, Pilot said farmers have explicitly said that y want a complete withdrawal of laws and Congress stands firmly behind ir demand.

Criticising three farm laws, Pilot said first major problem with m is that y were me without consultation with any stakeholder as farmer unions or state government was involved in making of laws.

"Clearly se three laws that government has me are t in interest of farmers because y are protecting everybody but farmer. You dismantle 'mandi' system and remove stock limits, you are obviously encouraging large conglomerates and huge companies who can man and maintain huge granaries", which could le to manipulation of food grain market in future, he claimed.

Asked about BJP's assertion that 'mandi' system will stay and law only provides more options to farmers, Pilot said that BJP h also claimed that farmers' income will be doubled and Rs 15 lakh will be transferred in accounts of people, ne of which happened.

" law is in favour of a few individuals which will n control sector. re is only so much food grain that is grown and harvested, if government stops or drastically reduces procurement, where will food security act go, from where will food come for supply for PDS (public distribution system)," 43-year-old leer said.

He hailed efforts of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vra for strongly opposing laws and standing with farmers while extending moral support to m in various places.

"Mr Gandhi vehemently opposed laws and he is coming to Rajasthan to give support to demand of farmers to repeal se laws. He is touring three or four agrarian districts and will take part in many 'kisan sabhas' and will meet farmers and give support to ir demands," he said of Gandhi's two-day visit to state on February 12-13.

Referring to multi-layered barricing and iron nails studded on ros at protest sites on Delhi's border points, Pilot said farmers are sitting at Delhi's borders for last 80 days and t a single incident of violence took place as y were agitating on truly Gandhian philosophy, but h to face severe intimidation.

"What happened on Republic Day, every individual has condemned that. We have to investigate how that happened and w y have caught main accused who is t a farmer," Pilot said, referring to violence in Delhi during protesting farmer's tractor rally on January 26.

" huge deployment, nails being dug and barricing, gave a sense that government is attempting to suppress farmers by oppressive means," Pilot said.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Presh demanding rollback of Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

However, government has maintained that new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new techlogies in agriculture.