Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, questioning why farmers are compelled to march to Delhi to demand justice. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge highlighted long-standing issues such as inadequate procurement of crops, unfair pricing under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime, and the absence of a legal guarantee for MSP.
Escalating Protests Blocked at Delhi Borders
The remarks came after Haryana Police and paramilitary forces blocked a group of 101 farmers resuming their march to Delhi from the Shambhu border on Sunday. Despite initially offering tea and biscuits, authorities soon escalated the situation, using tear gas shells, water cannons, and even chemical sprays to disperse the protesters. At least seven farmers were reportedly injured during the confrontation.
Demands and Accusations
Kharge accused the government of betraying farmers repeatedly. He pointed to unmet promises, including a legal MSP guarantee, a farm debt waiver, pensions for farmers and laborers, justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and a rollback of electricity tariff hikes.
The Congress leader also criticized the acute shortage of fertilizers and dismissed Modi’s earlier claims of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022 as fraudulent.
Barbed Wire and Tear Gas: Protest Crackdown
Kharge condemned the government for turning Delhi’s borders into “cantonments” and using excessive force to disrupt peaceful protests. He reminded Modi of his controversial remarks, where he labeled protesting farmers as “andolanjeevi” (agitators) and “parjeevi” (parasites), and slammed the government for its indifference to the 750 farmers who reportedly lost their lives during earlier protests.
A Plea for Justice
Kharge urged the government to respect farmers’ rights to voice their grievances, warning against continued neglect. “Farmers have seen through your lies. Do not take away their voice or commit further injustices,” he asserted.
The standoff underscores the growing discontent among farmers over unfulfilled promises, raising concerns about future confrontations.
, Kharge highlighted long-standing issues such as inadequate procurement of crops, unfair pricing under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime, and the absence of a legal guarantee for MSP.){kind=link}