West Bengal Chief Minister hit out at the Modi government over the much contentious farm bills and said that the Centre is now creating food crisis after failing to control the coronavirus pandemic.
File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (PTI photo)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the two farm bills passed by Rajya Sabha would deprive farmers of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and will lead to famine in the country.
All opposition parties should come together and fight these bills tooth and nail, said Banerjee who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo.
“Even as the country is reeling under Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre is trying to create famine through these farm bills,” she claimed while addressing a press conference.
“The government could not handle the pandemic and now it wants to create a food crisis. Farmers are being bulldozed. The Centre has done nothing to control the price rise of essential commodities. These bills will lead to food crisis as farmers will not get MSP,” the chief minister said.
Two key farm bills, dubbed by the government as the biggest reform in agriculture, were passed by Rajya Sabha on Sunday by voice vote amid chaotic scenes by opposition members who demanded that they be referred to a House panel for greater scrutiny.
Eight MPs, including Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien, were suspended from Rajya Sabha on Monday for unruly behaviour in the Upper House after the two bills were passed on Sunday.
On the suspension of MPs, Mamata Banerjee said, “We think TMC and other MPs have done the correct thing for farmers. Farmers are being deprived. This a ploy to take away their land”.
“Potato and onion were essential commodities, why have they been delisted? For whose interest? Farmers will commit suicide. They [Modi govt] want people to die without food. I think all political parties across India should come together against,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Comparing the Modi government with “Hitler,” Mamata Banerjee said all those opposing them are being framed.
“Look at what they did with Yogendra Yadav, Yechury. Not just farmers, all Opposition parties will join the force against new labour laws too. In days to come, all of you will not get any essential commodities in the market because BJP wants hoarders to prosper,” Mamata Banerjee said.
(With PTI inputs)