Shahjahanpur Border: Among thousands of protesting farmers who stood their ground at the Delhi border braving extreme temperatures, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal also supported the cause and spent the new year eve on the road.
In a special conversation with ETV Bharta, Beniwal said that he will keep fighting for the farmers and when Vasundhara Raje became the Chief Minister in the term of 2013, he agitated for 42 days.
He added that whenever farmers' issues come up, he raises the issue on every platform. "Now I am celebrating the new year among the farmers. The central government should accept the farmers' point because National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is suffering a great loss due to this. The atmosphere created by the Modi government is also slowly coming to an end."
'Would have torn the bill'
On the question of setting up a separate tent on Shahjahanpur border with his supporters, Beniwal said that everyone is the same and so are our demand. We want that all three agriculture laws be withdrawn.
"We are helping all the farmer organizations that are protesting and are not taking any political advantage over them," Beniwal said. He added that had he been there when the bill was being passed in the Lok Sabha, he would have torn the bill away."
Bills passed in a hurry
Beniwal said that when it was known that Rajasthan farmers were not participating in the protest, he united the farmers and gave momentum to the movement. On the question of why the central government is not listening to the farmers, Beniwal said that the first thing was that there was no need for these laws for the farmers. I think the officials prepared this bill in a hurry and now it has become a bone in their neck.
Did not ask allies
Beniwal targeted the NDA and said that the party did not take any opinion from its allies. This is the reason why many parties have separated like Shiv Sena, Akali Dal. If the BJP had fewer seats, then our question would have been different.
On how difficult the decision to separate from NDA was and how much damage it will do, Beniwal said that the BJP did not take any opinion from any allies. When they brought ordinance, people were sitting in homes. Whenever Parliament convenes, a meeting of NDA would be usually convened, however, when agriculture bills were to be brought, no meeting was held.
If not on backfoot, center will lose power in 2024
Beniwal said that when the movement was to start, the Home Minister himself asked the Centre to retract the bill. It is then we had stopped the agitation for 6 days. After this, on 26 December again we announced to continue the movement. We did not think about the profits and losses in it. Beniwal said that if the government does not come on backfoot on the issue of farmers, then in 2024 Modi ji will not be able to come to power.
State's leaders cannot match me
On being targeted by BJP leaders, Beniwal said that they are all leaders who win on the lotus symbol, they cannot match me. I have come by winning independently, made three of my MLAs win. The rhetoricists are speaking according to their party. They are not leaders, if the BJP cuts the ties today, no one will get even five hundred votes.
Beniwal said that I only have an issue with the NDA on the agricultural laws and I am not against the NDA on any other issue.
May the farmers win this new year
While wishing the new year, MP Beniwal said that may the year 2021 be auspicious and I pray to God that farmers win. The government should accept the demands of the farmers and suspend the agricultural laws and implement the report of the Swaminathan Commission. Beniwal said when the agitation regarding agricultural laws will end, then in Rajasthan, we will agitate on many issues including the entire debt waiver, total toll waiver, unemployment allowance etc.
Beniwal also said that BJP is thinking that at the end of their tenure, they will again come to power with 175 seats. However, the farmers will decide the fate of BJP.
