Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 20
Union Minister of state for Home Nityananad Rai on Sunday alleged the forces supporting the farmers’ agitations were working against the national interests and sabotaging transportation of food materials for the armed forces stationed in Hilly areas.
Speaking at kisan rallies at Patna and Vaishali, the minister claimed due to blockade of high-ways near New Delhi, ration for the armed forces posted in forward areas of Ladakh were stopped as trucks movement was paralysed. Now, the ration was being airlifted to these areas, the minister said.
He described it as a “big conspiracy” and claimed the parties that did not support the country during the Indo-China war were involved in the conspiracy. These forces were trying to stop supply of provisions for the armed forces, he alleged.
Rai blamed Communists, Congress and RJD for creating confusion among the farmers. He said if someone proved the three laws on Farms were defective, he would volunteer to sweep the houses of those who proved him wrong.
Union Law, Justice, communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said though the Congress in its manifesto in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had promised relief to the kisans, still party leaders were opposing the reforms introduced by the NDA government.
Ravishankar attacked the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee for supporting the kisans agitation and alleged she denied the farmers their due sent by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during the Lockdown period.
He referred to the plight of a farmer of Samastipur who was making distress sale of cauliflowers and even crushing the produce under wheels of tractors. He instructed the officials of the communication ministry who arranged transportation and sale of farm produce at higher prices. He hoped the Blue Revolution would benefit the kisans.
He made a similar facility for a Muzaffarpur based farmer too.
BJP is organising kisan chaupals at different parts of the state to create awareness among the kisans on the three farm bills. All the union ministers from Bihar, MPs and MLAs are engaged in kisan chaupals. Former Deputy Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi addressed a kisan conference at Darbhanga while Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Chaubey attended the meeting in Begusarai and Buxar respectively.
At Patna’s conference, attendance was very thin and most of the chairs were un-occupied. Though Ravishankar is a cabinet minister, he had to wait for the junior minister, Nityananad Rai for 25 minutes. Rai took the mike immediately after arrival, made his speech and left the venue. He did not even wait for the Cabinet minister’s speech that surprised the local party leaders.
