Farmers Movement Archive

BJP to oppose debate on Centre’s new farm laws in Jharkhand assembly today

RANCHI: Opposition BJP on Sunday vehemently criticised the state government’s decision to debate upon the recently enacted farm laws in Jharkhand Assembly on Monday and said that they are going to strongly oppose the move. With just two days left for the ongoing Budget session to conclude, the mahagathbandhan government of JMM-Congress-RJD, which has opposed the three contentious laws ever since they were enacted in October last year, will hold discussions on it with an aim to pass a resolution against them, government sources said. BJP’s leader of legislative party Babulal Marandi said, “We have learnt that the government will hold a debate on the farm laws in the House tomorrow. It is unconstitutional to debate on laws enacted by the Parliament. By doing so, the government will set a wrong example. BJP will strongly oppose it in the House.” Asked why he chose to voice his party’s opinion ahead of Monday’s debate, Marandi said, “I am sure the speaker will not allow us to speak tomorrow. That is why I chose to speak today.” The former chief minister came down heavily on the Congress, accusing it of adopting a dual stand on the farm laws just for political gains. He said, “During the UPA regime, the Union government had proposed to dissolve the agriculture produce markets (mandis). Now under the new farm laws, the Modi government has given farmers the option to sell their produce at a place of their choice, besides government mandis. There are several such revolutionary clauses in the new laws to make the farmers progressive but Congress is only opposing it for the sake of doing so.” He added, “The party is giving rise to anarchy and spreading false propaganda as they have now realised that the good work of the Modi government will not allow them to return to power ever again.” Meanwhile, the grand old party hit back at BJP and said that instead of shying away from it, the opposition should debate and defend the farm laws based on their merits in the assembly on Monday. “If the farm laws are so good then why is BJP afraid of discussing it in the state assembly? Why are thousands of farmers protesting against them for months?” party spokesperson Alok Dubey said, adding, “Instead of giving statements in the media, BJP should defend the so-called merits of the laws in the House.” He further said, “BJP is afraid because they know that the laws were framed unconstitutionally through an ordinance and without any legitimate debate amid the pandemic.” Lal Kishorenath Shahdeo, another spokesperson, said, “Many states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have passed a resolution against the farm laws through debates in their respective assemblies. The state government is constitutionally right in debating the laws in the assembly and pass resolution by a majority vote, if it sees that the laws aren’t in favour of the farmers.”

The Times of India

2021-03-22

Ranchi