Even as her Government on Thursday passed a resolution demanding withdrawal of controversial farm laws amid a noisy walkout by BJP MLAs, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maligning the farmers’ movement and demanded his resignation if he failed to repeal what she termed “black laws.”
“Farmers are our food providers … If they suffer then there will be shortage of food throughout the country. The three farm laws will only affect Haryana and Punjab but also will adversely impact the agriculture of Bengal. We want that they (central government) to call an all-party meeting and repeal the laws immediately” or else “… Prime Minister Narendra Modi should resign from his post.”
Alleging that “the BJP has set the country on fire,” the Chief Minister said that “these black laws have been forcibly imposed on the people … and when the farmers organised a peaceful movement for the past several months now they are trying to destroy this movement,” by playing dirty tricks.
“Our Government is with the farmers,” Banerjee said that she would offer all the support to the protesting farmers and added the central government which has earlier waived corporate loans, should also extend the same benefit to farmers
“Either the Centre should withdraw the laws or step down …” Banerjee said holding the Delhi Police and Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the January 26 incident at Red Fort even as BJP MLAs walked out of the Assembly shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans.
“Delhi police is to be blamed for what happened there… What was the police administration doing? It was a complete intelligence failure… It is clear that the Police mishandled the tractor parade … we even saw how a Punjabi artist was involved in this (Red Fort) incident … and this is the same man who had earlier been seen in photographs with the Prime Minister and Home Minister … And now they are calling the farmers anti-nationals … We will not tolerate farmers being branded as traitors. They are the assets of this nation,” Banejee said.
“By demanding Prime Minister’s resignation The Chief Minister is insulting the nation,” BJP MLA Manoj Tigga said.