Repealing three farm laws shows Modi government's sensitivity: Karnataka CM Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to repeal the three contentious farm laws showed his sensitivity.
Rejecting the claim that the government bowed to the year-long protest, Bommai said that the three laws were part of the liberalisation and globalisation process started in 1991-92 and were in line with the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's agreement with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"It is not a question of bowing. This process of liberalisation and globalisation started in 1991-'92. As part of it, various laws were to be formulated. Further, the UPA government had signed an agreement with the WTO. Agriculture Reforms and the Agriculture Marketing Reforms were also part of it," Bommai claimed.
According to him, the draft bill was pending during the UPA government and a decision was taken after bringing certain changes and taking consensus of all the states to give proper returns to the farmers.
"However, the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and other states insisted for a regulated market system and held protests for one year," Bommai said.
He also said that Modi tried to convince the farmer leaders but they did not agree.
"The Prime Minister has announced withdrawing all the three laws in the upcoming parliament session. It is a sensitive government. We have responded to the farmers' demand," Bommai said.
He denied that the decision to repeal the three laws had anything to do with the forthcoming elections in five states.
"We had won by-elections even in the midst of protests. The decision has no connection with the election in five states. The Prime Minister felt that some more discussions were necessary and accordingly, the government felt that withdrawing the farm laws will build confidence among people," Bommai explained.
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa too welcomed Prime Minister's decision to repeal the three laws.
"The Prime Minister has announced withdrawing the three laws. The farmers were agitating against them. On behalf of the farmers of the country, I congratulate him," Yediyurappa told reporters.
On the occasion of 552nd Prakash Parva or the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev on Friday, Modi announced repealing the three contentious laws.
Most of the agitators were holding protests around Delhi and other parts of North India for over a year demanding that the government withdraw the three laws saying they were anti-farmer.
These laws are: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
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Ex-Army officer assaulted, robbed at gunpoint by woman he met through matrimonial website
Mathura(UP), Apr 5 (PTI): A retired Army colonel from Haryana has filed a police complaint here, alleging that he was held hostage, assaulted, looted and forced to participate in an "obscene video" at gunpoint with a woman he met through a matrimonial website, police said on Saturday.
The woman from Mathura, who was allegedly in on the plan to rob him, was working with other accomplices, the ex-armyman said in his complaint filed on Thursday.
According to Barsana Station House Officer (SHO) Raj Kamal Singh, Colonel Rajneesh Soni (retired), a resident of Gurugram, reported that he was contacted by a woman from Barsana on a matrimonial website in January. The woman allegedly agreed to marry him, and they began communicating.
The woman allegedly persuaded the colonel to visit Barsana on January 25, requesting that he visit the Radharani temple. When he arrived, she arranged for his stay at a guest house and took him on a tour of the area, including a visit to the temple, the complainant said.
After returning to the guest house, the woman and her accomplices allegedly told the colonel that her brother had been involved in an accident and they needed to leave immediately. They then led him to a waiting car.
"Once outside the town limits, the colonel alleges that he was attacked by the occupants of the car. They seized his phone, physically assaulted him, and forced him to contact relatives and friends to transfer money," the SHO said.
"He was then taken back to the guest house, where he was allegedly forced to participate in obscene videos and photographs at gunpoint. He was threatened that the videos would be made public if he reported the incident," the officer said.
The colonel has alleged that his purse, bag, gold chain, debit card and Rs. 12,000 in cash were stolen from the guest house.
After an unsuccessful attempt at locating the perpetrators himself, the colonel finally reported the incident to the Barsana police two days ago, he said.
"A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS and all facts are being investigated. Further action will be taken as per facts found in the investigation," the SHO said.
