16 Opposition Parties to Boycott President's Address to Parliament on January 29

NEW DELHI: The leaders of sixteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, on Thursday, said they will boycott the President's address at both the Houses of Parliament in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the farm laws.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting on the first day of the Budget session on Friday.

In a joint statement released signed by the heads of the Opposition parties, the parties said the three farm laws passed in September are an attack on the rights of the states and violate the federal spirit of the Constitution.

The parties that will boycott the president's address on Friday are the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, National Conference, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Indian Union Muslim League, RSP, Peoples Democratic Party, MDMK, Kerala Congress (M) and the All India United Democratic Front.

"If not repealed, these laws will effectively dismantle the edifice of national food security that rests upon MSP, government procurement and public distribution system (PDS). The farm bills were brought without any consultations with states and farmer unions and lacked national consensus," the statement further said.

The leaders also called out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, stating the incumbent party is "arrogant, adamant and undemocratic."

"India's farmers have been collectively fighting against the three farm laws arbitrarily imposed by the BJP Government that threaten the future of Indian agriculture which sustains over 60 per cent of India's population and the livelihood of crores of farmers, sharecroppers and farm labour. Lakhs of farmers have been agitating at the gates of the national capital of Delhi braving biting cold and heavy rain for the last 64 days for their rights and justice. Over 155 farmers have lost their lives. The government remains unmoved and has responded with water cannons, tear gas and lathi charges," the statement said.

The Congress also held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the violence that took place in Delhi on Republic Day and said he should be removed from his position immediately.

The opposition parties have decided to go strong against the central government during the budget session of Parliament over the three controversial farm laws, the economic situation and the India-China border fracas. They have also demanded a complete repeal of the contentious farm laws.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the 16 Opposition parties want an independent investigation into the Centre's role in the Republic Day violence.

Congress took to Twitter to announce the boycott.

The Union Budget will be presented on February 1.

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