Farmers Movement Archive

Cong leaders celebrate passing of agriculture Bills in Vidhan Sabha

Jalandhar, October 20 As three Bills were passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to counter the Centre’s farm laws, the local Congress leadership celebrated the day by playing dhol and distributing sweets among party workers. Among various party leaders who celebrated the occasion was Dr Jasleen Sethi, district president, Congress Mahila Morcha. Terming Capt Amarinder Singh as ‘Punjab da rakha’, she distributed sweets to the party workers. Congress councillor Sherry Chadha distributed sweets to the shopkeepers of market areas falling in his ward. Former Punjab Youth Congress president and Phillaur Assembly constituency in-charge Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary too rejoiced the occasion with partymen and termed the unanimous passing of agriculture bills as ‘historic’. He held celebrations in Phillaur. To negate the impact of Central Government’s agriculture Acts, the Captain Amarinder Singh government brought three bills having special provisions. The provisions include sale of wheat and paddy at prices equal to or over the MSP, imprisonment of three years and a fine in case anybody compels a farmer to sell his agricultural produce below MSP, mandatory payment of MSP by anyone entering into contract with farmers, and keeping all powers to fix stock limits of food grains with the state government. The Punjab government also brought a resolution to reject Modi government’s farm laws. Chaudhary thanked the Chief Minister for bringing these bills and said, “The Congress government is a government of the people, by the people and for the people, whereas the BJP’s Central government is of, by and for the crony capitalists.” He said that under the state government bills, no one can force a farmer to sell their produce below MSP and in case of any dispute, farmers can also go to court, an option which is not available in the Central Government’s laws. “Capt Amarinder Singh has always protected interests of Punjabis. But the BJP government is hell bent on destroying farmers and giving their land to Ambanis and Adanis. The Congress won’t tolerate injustice to annadata and would take every step to fight for their rights,” he added. Goraya Municipal Council president Kamaldeep Singh Bittu, Market Committee Chairman Dara Singh Rai, Municipal Council vice-president Ravinderpal Rinku, city Congress president Manish Jain, city Congress vice-president Sanjay Atwal and Rurka Kalan block Congress president Rakesh Duggal were among those present.

The Tribune

2020-10-21