Still time for Modi govt to repeal farm laws, follow 'raj dharma', says Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Amid the continuing farmers' agitation at the Delhi border, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday urged the Narendra Modi government to follow the "raj dharma" by repealing the farm laws.

"There is still time for the Modi government to renounce its arrogance of power and immediately withdraw all three black laws unconditionally and end the agitation of the farmers who are dying in cold and rain. This can be raj dharma and a true tribute to the farmers who passed away," Sonia Gandhi said in a statement (roughly translated from Hindi).

Like the rest of the country, I am distressed to see the condition of the ''annadatas'' who have been struggling for their demands on the Delhi borders areas, she added.

Also Read | Govt will have to listen to protesting farmers: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress chief further said that "So far, more than 50 farmers have lost their lives due to the government's reluctance to accept the demands of farmers."

The Congress president alleged that, "After independence, this is the first time an egoistic government has come to power, which can't see the suffering and struggle of the people who feed the people of the country."

Despite rains and the ongoing cold wave across North India, farmers agitating against the Centre's farm laws stood strong at the borders of the national capital and continued their protest for the 37th day on Sunday.

"We are living on the streets in such harsh weather conditions away from our family. We're hopeful that the government will accept our demands tomorrow," a protesting farmer at the Gazipur (Delhi-UP) border told ANI.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi asks PM Modi to support farmers

Another round of talks between the Union government and the farmers' unions took place on Wednesday. While a consensus was reached on issues related to the environment and Electricity Act, the deadlock continued on the two main demands, legal assurance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and complete rollback of the three farm laws.

The next round of talks will take place on January 4. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha in their first press conference on Saturday threatened to march to Delhi on January 26 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles if their demands were not met. (ANI)

• #Sonia Gandhi
• #Farm Bill
• #India
• #Politics
• #Congress
• #Prime Minister
• #bjp
• #Narendra Modi
• #Farmers Protest