Picture : Twitter / ANI
Senior Congress leader and three- time Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor has said that the President has an important moral role in guiding the government to take steps towards resolving the stalemate. The former MoS HRD and External Affairs said these lines before submitting a memorandum of support to farmers’ protest to President Ram Nath Kovind.
“The stand of the party is well-known. We want the government to atone for their complete lack of consultation with the farmers before passing these bills by making a serious effort to address their concerns,” Tharoor told ANI.
“I think the President has a very important moral role in encouraging and guiding the government and telling them not to stand on their legislative pride and prevent a resolution to the problem,” he added.
The Congress MP further said: “No one wants the stalemate to continue and nobody wants to see the farmers suffering in the cold Delhi winter. At the same time, no one wants to see this paralysis and they want to see some progress. So, the President can push and encourage the government.”
Tharoor expressed satisfaction that the government is willing to talk to the farmers but went on to add that the key question is whether they are ready to listen to the grievances of the farmers.
The Prime Minister first started off by passing these bills without any consultation. Subsequently, he and his followers ignored them. Then they started denigrating them as Khalistanis, Pakistanis and Naxals. Now, finally they are saying that they are willing to talk. The key question is whether they are ready to listen. They should listen to the farmers,” he said.
