After a controversial statement on Friday, union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar issued a clarification that centre has no plans to reintroduce farm lawas. The clarification came after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi raised questions on the Modi government’s intentions of bringing back the laws after the conclusion of election in five states.
Narendra Singh Tomar had on Friday said that after scrapping farm laws, the government had “moved step back, (but) will move forward again”. Tomar was speaking at an event when he said this. He also remarked that the farm laws were introduced for the betterment of farmers.
“We brought the agriculture amendment laws. But some people did not like these laws, which, after 70 years after Independence, were a big reform under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," he had said.
Smelling conspiracy in this statement, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to show his disappointment. Gandhi said the protests would continue if the centre really brings back these laws again.
“If anti-farmer steps are taken again, then satyagraha of annadatas will take place. Had defeated arrogance, again defeat it,” he tweeted in Hindi.
ALSO READ: After farm laws withdrawal, Agriculture Minister says, "Moved step back, will move forward again"
While issuing a clarification, Tomar took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of doing “cheap politics”.
"There is no proposal of the government to bring back agriculture reform laws. People like Rahul Gandhi indulge in cheap politics. These people have tried unsuccessfully to mislead the country by misquoting my statement. There is no such proposal to bring back the repealed laws," He told reporters in Madhya Pradesh's Morena.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to take back the controversial farm laws, bringing an end to the months-long protest by farmers. Farmers were unhappy with these laws, citing it could leave them at the mercy of big corporate firms. They protested for months together, finally making PM to take back this step.