Panaji: Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said that the BJP agreed to repeal the farm laws only as they have realized that they are looking at the defeat in the next round of elections.
Addressing media persons in Panaji, Chidambaram recalled that only three weeks back, the Prime Minister, addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh had said that they will never withdraw the farm laws.
“Only three weeks ago, the PM in a speech in UP said that anybody opposing the farm laws are anti-national, they are speaking for big farmers against the small farmers and they are anti-farmers,” Chidambaram said.
He said that PM had categorically stated that the centre will “never withdraw the farm laws.”
“What has happened today? What has happened is that they have a feedback that they will lose badly in next round of elections in five states including Goa,” he commented.
Chidambaram said that it is a fear of losing election which has forced the PM to suddenly announce at 9 oclock this morning that he has decided to withdraw the farm laws.
“Remember about three weeks ago, when by election results came and BJP suffered a massive defeat in Himachal Pradesh and lost badly in several other seats including Karnataka and Rajasthan, the official results came in the morning and by 3 oclock they announced reduction of prices of petrol and diesel,” he stated.
The Congress leader said that BJP-led government does not believe in consultation, discussion, parliamentary debate.
“That kind of stubborn government today has announced that they are withdrawing the farm laws means that they know that they are losing the next round of elections,” he said.
Chidambaram said that this is a lesson for the people. “This government does not fear democracy, this government does not fear parliament, they only fear a loss in elections,” he commented.
The former union minister said that if we want this government to mend its ways, the best thing that the people in India can do is to defeat it in every election.
“I hope the people of Goa as well as other four states will deal a massive defeat to the BJP in the next round of elections,” he added.
Referring to the statement by farmers’ leader Rakesh Tiket that there are other issues that are pending, Chidambaram said Congress hopes that the government will have better sense today and call the farmers to discuss the other issues.
He said that the PM has announced that the farm laws would be repealed, so they will do it in the Parliament.
“If they don’t repeal, we wont be surprised, it will only expose them further,” he added.
Appealing people to defeat BJP in every election, Chidambaram said “if they vote the BJP back, the BJP will become arrogant again. Only way to keep this government under lock, under parliament and behave responsibly is to defeat them in every election.”
