Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jan 22: Former minister and MLA U T Khader on Friday January 22 said that the BJP-led union government is trying to curb the farmers’ protest, as the British curbed the freedom struggle during the pre-Independence struggle by canning and using water cannon against the freedom fighters.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan here, Khader said, "Citizens who are true patriots, should oppose the union government's farm law. This law is anti-national and anti-people. It is a threat to the people of India. This law will affect the minimum support price for farmers."

He also said that the new law would result in shortage of food grains for Public Distribution System.

Khader said the present law will not allow the authorities to hold raids on godowns where excessive food grains are stocked. This may also lead to an increase in the price for food grains, he said.

“The farmers have been protesting since three months but the union government has failed to understand their pain. “If this law will not affect farmers, why are they protesting for months?” he questioned.

Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Khader said, the neglect of masses would lead to downfall of the government. “As Congress is the voice of the people, we are supporting the cause and protests will be held in taluk levels,” he said.

Taking a dig at BJP-led Karnataka government, Khader said, “How teachers can complete 90% syllabus in a span of five to six months. The teachers and students are in confusion. This will also affect students who are pursuing class 10. The government has no vision in this regard. The government has failed to appoint guest faculty at schools and colleges. After BJP government came to power, a single guest faculty has not been appointed.”

Speaking on Republic TV's Arnab Goswami's leaked WhatsApp chat messages, Khader said it is really astonishing how the matters of internal security got leaked. “The government should sincerely probe this matter and take proper action against the violators of law in the interest of the nation,” he said.

Condemning incidents of dropping objectionable items into the offering boxes of Daivasthanas in the city, Khader said, "A few groups are trying to create confusion and discord in the society. I have urged the police commissioner to arrest the miscreants soon and punish them under stringent law so that such incidents will not be repeated in future.

“The BJP government and the police officials should not neglect such incidents. Instead, trace the culprits and punish them. Such incidents occur only when there is no fear,” he added.

District Congress president Harish Kumar said, "Supporting farmers’ protest, district Congress will hold protests in all taluks of the district."