Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday while addressing a gathering in Punjab’s Sangrur lashed out at the Narendra Modi government over the farm laws, saying that these laws will “take away the independence of India.” 

Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was finishing “farmers and labourers” with the laws just as he had “destroyed” small shopkeepers with demonetisation and GST. He asked the Centre why there was a hurry to bring the laws during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

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The Congress leader on Sunday launched three-day long tractor rallies named ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ in Punjab and Haryana, protesting the contentious farm bills. On the second day of his rally, Gandhi said, “There is a need to strengthen this system. More mandis need to be set up. There is a need to guarantee MSP (minimum support price). There is a need to give infrastructure to farmers. there is a need to set up silos.” 

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“But Narendra Modi is not doing this. Modi is not strengthening the system… If Modi gives better PDS and guarantees MSP and gives more mandis, then Ambani and Adani cannot make money,” Gandhi said. He accused the prime minister of ‘destroying’ the system. 

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Calling the three laws as “black laws”,  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government would take the fight forward and take every step to safeguard the interest of the farming community.

Last month, President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the three bills– Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, amid vehement protests from the Opposition and farmer groups.