Naveen Asks Farmers To Return Home, But Tathagata Feels Fight Far From Over

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged farmers to return to their homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the three farm laws.

But senior BJD leader Tathagata Satpathy seems to believe that now was not the time for the farmers to return home as the battle was far from over.

In response to the PM’s announcement, Naveen had tweeted, “Welcome Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji’s decision to repeal all 3 #FarmLaws, in the best interests of the country and its farmers. Your farms and families have been waiting for long and they will be happy to welcome you back. @bjd_odisha continues to stand with the farmers.”

But taking a swipe at Naveen, Tathagata tweeted, “Why on earth would ‘farms and families….. welcome you back’? It was a battle. People died. Farmers won. Hope Orissa too would go back on these laws.”

While Naveen urged the agitating farmers to return home as their demands had been met, Tathagata seems to disagree, urging them not to go home yet as the battle was far from over.

Later in the day, Tathagata tweeted further, “Bad for those who do not wish to understand. Leaders of the farmers’ movement certainly do. If they disperse now and go back home, they could get cheated and lose.”

In another tweet, he implied that it was the PM’s desire that the farmers call off their agitation and go home. But if the farmers went home, Modi would have his way, he seems to imply.

The BJD had opposed the two farm Bills — the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Felicitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 — in the Rajya Sabha last year.

The BJD’s opposition to the twin Bills had come as a surprise to several political analysts.