New Delhi: The senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned the Government of India for not compensating the kin of the farmers who lost their lives during the year-long protests against the three contentious laws.
He also criticized the ruling government of India for not having a record of casualties of the farmers.
“We have 403 people whom the government of Punjab compensated 5 lakh each and jobs to some,” Gandhi said.
He added, “We also have a list of 100 names from other states and a 3rd list, which is public information, of names that can easily be verified. But the government says that such a list does not exist.”
He said that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi himself admitted that he has made a mistake and apologized to the country.
“As a result of that mistake, 700 people have died. Now you are lying about their names. Why don’t you have the decency to give them what is their due?” he questions.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Government of India informed the Parliament that it has “no record” of the deaths of the farmers who died during the year-long protests demanding repeal of the three contentious farm laws, and hence there was no question of providing financial assistance to anyone.
In a reply to the Opposition’s query on whether the Government of India will grant financial assistance to the families of the farmers who lost their lives during the year-long protest, Agriculture Minister of India Narendra Tomar told the Parliament- Lok Sabha, “(The) Ministry of Agriculture has no record in the matter, and hence the question (of aid) does not arise.”
Apart from the main demand of repeal of the three contentious laws – that have now been officially repealed by the Parliament – more than a year-long agitation has demanded the withdrawal of cases against the farmers during the time of the agitation and paying compensation to and rehabilitation of the families of the farmers, who lost their lives during the same time.
More than 700 farmers have died, reports said quoting opposition parties, during the year-long protests at Delhi borders.
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