Gujarat Bypolls: Smriti Irani hits back at Congress for opposing farm acts

Vadodara, Oct 24: In a sharp attack at the Congress party for opposing three farm acts, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani said that how they will protect farmers when their own son-in-law has looted their lands.

 

 

Addressing an election rally in Gujarat’s Vadodara, Irani said in Hindi, "Jiske damad kisano ki zameen kha jaye, wo dusre kisano ki zameen kya khaak bachayenge" (Whose son-in-law has snatched the land of farmers, they won't be able to save their lands)".

 

 

Earlier, the central government had laid down three bills - Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

 

These acts had sparked protests in various parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. However, the center has maintained its position stating that these acts are for the benefits of the farmers. The Parliament also passed the three Bills which have come into effect from September 27 after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent.

 

Comparing previous Congress government at Centre with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, she said that people have learned that only a 'sevak' can dedicate himself to the development of the nation and those who are willing to become self-reliant will have to walk with PM Modi.

 

"Why Congress leadership is scattering? Because people of this country have become aware of the fact that this country is not the property of those who have been in the power. The one who as a 'sevak' (worker) devotes himself to the country only that one will be sitting in power," she said.

 

The by-polls in the eight seats of Gujarat assembly is being held as eight Congress MLAs had resigned as legislators in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha elections earlier this year. Now, five of them have joined the BJP and have been given tickets to contest the by-polls. Bypolls on the eight Assembly seats in Gujarat - Abdasa, Limdi, Morbi, Dhari, Gadhada (ST), Karjan, Dangs (ST) and Kaprada (ST) - will be held on November 3.

 

Slamming one of them (Brajesh Merja), Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi had a few days ago said that stated he had done 'gaddari'. Irani fired back at the comment and said that a party who which supports bringing back of Article 370 of the Constitution, cannot level allegations like 'gaddari'.