Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mounted a vigorous defense of the three bills, making it clear that his government will move forward to get the go-ahead from Parliament for measures aimed at opening private avenues for farmers to sell their produce.
Farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against these proposed laws that their leaders allege will end up dismantling their existing government-backed support system.
Several other regional parties, including the three-member Aam Aadmi Party, the Samajwadi Party with eight seats and the BSP with four, have joined the ranks of the opposition in protest against these bills, but it may not be enough to hinder their approval.
A number of parties that have spoken out against these bills suggest that there are nearly 100 MPs so far opposing them. There is no clarity on the position of some small parties that have around a dozen members together.
Since Modi’s government took office for the second time in 2019, his rivals have been unable to scuttle any of his major bills due to a surge in the ranks of treasury banks and a corresponding drop in the ranks of treasury banks. the opposition.
The Agricultural Products Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) bill and the Farmers’ Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services were approved by Lok Sabha on Thursday, while the Essential Products Bill (Amendment) passed on Tuesday.
These bills seek to replace ordinances already enacted by the government. Speaking at a virtual launch of various rail projects in Bihar, Modi decided to speak extensively about these bills, which have sparked protests from farmers in states such as Punjab and Haryana, and sought to allay the concerns of the agricultural community by securing them public procurement. of your products will continue and so will the minimum support price (MSP).
He claimed that these reforms have brought “freedom” to farmers and have given them a “shield of protection”, since he accused the opposition of relying on intermediaries and “deceiving” the peasants by “lying to them.”
With opposition parties calling the three bills “anti-farmers” and SAD resigning its government to protest against them, Modi refuted their criticism, described these proposed laws as “historic” and claimed that they will free farmers by allow them to sell their products. anywhere at a better price.
A day after resigning from the Union Cabinet, senior SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said she is “saddened” that her voice in support of farmers was not heard and demanded that the government pause in these laws by forwarding them to a parliamentary panel for further consultation. .
The government has presented these bills as farmer-friendly, saying they will ensure that farmers get better prices for their produce and are not subject to ‘mandis’ regulations. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Thursday at Lok Sabha that farmers will be free to sell their products to anyone and that these bills will increase competition and promote private investment, which will help infrastructure development. agricultural and will generate employment.
However, opposition parties have criticized the bills as “anti-farmers”, claiming that the agricultural sector will be left to the fate of corporate interests. Delhi’s Chief Minister and AAP Leader Arvind Kejriwal also called on all non-BJP parties to unite in Rajya Sabha and oppose the three bills that he said would leave farmers in the hands of large companies for their exploitation.
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