Friday, March 29, 2024

Punjab Assembly unanimously passes resolution against Centre’s farm laws; passes four new bills

The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed four Bills and adopted a resolution against the Narendra Modi government’s farm laws.

Following the Chief Amarinder Singh’s urge to all parties to unanimously pass his government’s historic Bills in the Vidhan Sabha, the Opposition SAD, AAP and Lok Insaaf MLAs backed the legislations.

The Bills were passed after an over five-hour discussion, in which BJP MLAs did not take part.

The BJP has only two legislators in the assembly.

“The Bills have become an Act at the Parliament but Vidhan Sabha unanimously rejected those Acts. We’ve adopted a resolution and have come here together. We gave copies of the resolution to the Governor and requested him to approve it,” after meeting the governor, Singh said.

“It first goes to Governor, then to President. If it doesn’t happen then we have legal methods too. I hope the Governor approves it because it is unanimous. I’ve also sought an appointment from President between Nov 2-5. Entire Vidhan Sabha will go to him,” CM added.

Earlier,The Centre’s ‘anti-farmer’ laws, and the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill led to widespread protests by farmers in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana.

The fresh bills provide for imprisonment of not less than three years and a fine for sale or purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP, exemption of farmers from attachment of land up to 2.5 acres and prevention of hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce, among other things, according to news agency PTI.

The Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020; The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020, were passed to protect the state’s farmers and agriculture by restoring various safeguards aimed at preventing damage apprehended by the farming community as a result of the Central legislations.

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