Early repeal of farm laws would have saved innocent lives: BJP MP Varun Gandhi writes to Modi

In an open letter to Modi, who announced the repeal of the laws on Friday, Gandhi wrote, "More than 700 of our farmer brothers and sisters have been martyred in this movement, as they peacefully protested in extremely difficult and hostile conditions.

"I believe if this decision had been taken earlier, all these innocent lives would not have been lost."

Gandhi has requested the Prime Minister to decide upon other farmers' issues including Minimum Support Price (MSP).

"The second demand of the farmers relates to making MSP legally binding. There are more than 85 percent small and marginal farmers in our country. For the empowerment of the farmers, we have to ensure that they get remunerative prices for their crops," the saffron leader said in the letter.

Besides, Gandhi has criticised senior BJP leaders' comments that he felt led to the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, where five farmers were allegedly crushed to death.

"Many leaders sitting in senior positions have given provocative statements against our agitating farmers. It is the result of such statements and the adversarial atmosphere created around the movement, that on October 3, five of our farmer brothers were crushed to death by vehicles in Lakhimpur Kheri," he wrote.

In even stronger words, the Pilibhit Lok Sabha MP wrote to Modi, "Democracy runs on constitutionally, discourse and empathy. The farmers expect you to solve their problems in a sensitive and timely manner." 

In a national address, Modi took all by surprise announcing the repeal of the farm laws that had triggered a year-long protests by the farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Apologising to the nation, the Prime Minister said the government will roll back the laws constitutionally in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.