Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab passes bills against farm laws

CHANDIGARH: Punjab became the first state in the country to legislatively counter Centre’s contentious farm laws when its assembly unanimously passed on Tuesday three agriculture bills, along with another bill protecting the state’s farmers from attachment of their land hol ding up to 2.5 acres in any recovery proceeding by any court in the state. The assembly also passed a unanimous resolution seeking immediate annulment of the Centre’s three agri-marketing laws and promulgation of a new law to protect minimum support price (MSP) and ensu re continuance of procurement of foodgrains by the Centre through FCI and other agencies.The four bills, tabled by CM Captain Amarinder Singh, were passed by a voice vote with the two BJP MLAs skipping the special session. Punjab’s bills essentially seek to amend the provisions of the three central laws and, among other things, provide for imprisonment of not less than three years and fine for a person who “harasses/ compels a farmer to sell his agricultural produce below MSP”. Seeking to protect the interest of farmers, farm labourers and those engaged in ancillary and incidental activities related to production, sale and marketing of agricultural produce, the amendments ensure that no sale or purchase of wheat or paddy shall be valid unless the price paid for it is equal to or greater than the MSP. Punjab’s bills also restore the primacy of Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act over the central legislations. They also protect consumers from hoarding and black marketing of agricultural produce. Later, Amarinder led an all-party delegation, without the BJP, to Raj Bhawan and presented governor VP Singh Bandore a copy of the four bills and the resolution passed by the assembly. “If the constitutional head fails to sign the four amend ment bills passed in the assembly for the welfare of farmers, the Punjab government is ready to take legal recourse,” the CM said after the meeting. When asked whether Punjab’s confrontation with the Centre could lead to imposition of President’s Rule in Punjab, the CM said, “Let’s wait and see… we will move step-by-step… In case such a situation arises, the Centre would not need to dismiss me as I carry my resignation in my pocket and would give it willingly, rather than compromising on the interests of Punjab and its farmers.” The CM had spoken on similar lines in the assembly: “I am not afraid of resigning. I am not afraid of my government being dismissed. But I will not let the farmers suffer or be ruined,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-10-21

India