Congratulating the farmers for the Union government's withdrawal of three contentious farm laws, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday demanded that the Union government pass a resolution to repeal the three laws on the first day of the Parliament winter session.
“History teaches us that people's wishes shall prevail in a democracy,” Stalin tweeted. Later in the day, in a statement, Stalin congratulated the farmers and said that it was the “unrelenting protests by farmers that forced a change of mind in the Union Government which has been maintaining that there was no going back on the farm laws”.
Recalling the opposition by the DMK in both the houses of Parliament, he said the DMK voted against the bills and went to the Supreme Court against the three contentious laws. Stalin also recalled the resolution brought by the DMK in the state assembly, demanding repeal of the laws, in August 2021.
“The protest which began in Delhi on November 26 went on for one year. The farmers protested despite all odds. But whatever be the reason the withdrawal of laws is to be welcomed. The Union Government should call farmers’ associations and hold discussions. It should take steps to repeal the laws on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament.”
DMK MP Kanimozhi also welcomed the decision to repeal the farm laws. She called it a a huge victory for the farmers. “It is a great victory for our democracy. It restores our faith that the king's voice should echo the voice of the people.”
Meanwhile, the AIADMK which once supported the laws saying that it will not harm the interests of the farmers, too, welcomed the repealing of the laws. In a statement, AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “friend of the farmers”, and said the repealing of the laws reflects the generosity of the prime minister and his concern for the farmers.
The AIADMK coordinator said that the farmers were protesting for more than a year alleging that the laws would allow big business houses to dominate their produce. They feared that their land would be lost and they would not receive the minimum support price, Panneerselvam said.
Meanwhile, AIADMK senior leader and organising secretary S. Semmalai said that even when the farm laws were beneficial to the agriculturists, his party welcomed the decision to repeal the laws respecting the sentiments of a section of the farmers.
