Farmers in many states, including Punjab and Haryana, have protested against these bills. The government has already enacted ordinances and the bills are seeking parliamentary approval for them. Amar Singh (Congress) called it anti-farmers and anti-poor. Saugata Roy and Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress also opposed the bill and accused the Center of taking power away from the states. “I don’t understand what the rush was to bring in the ordinance,” Roy said, asserting that the legislation will benefit large traders, while farmers would be left in the lurch. “It will give large corporations entry into the farmer space,” said the TMC leader.
DM Kathir Anand of DMK also opposed the bill, while Kaushalendra Kumar of JD (U) supported it, saying the proposed legislation will benefit farmers as they will not have to sell their agricultural products at lower prices. PP Chaudhary (BJP) said the legislation will not only benefit farmers but also consumers, describing it as a visionary step and the biggest reform in the agricultural sector. YSRCP’s Sanjeev Kumar Singari welcomed the bill, saying that farmers need better prices for their agricultural products. Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) opined that state interference at all stages is not a smart idea.
“Agricultural markets are over-regulated by outdated laws. India has now become a surplus in most agricultural products, but there is still very less investment in cold storage facilities,” Mahtab said. The government has to safeguard the interests of farmers, he said. Mahtab also suggested that the government remove export restrictions in the agricultural sector. Kunwar Danish Ali (BSP) called the bill anti-farmers and said it will benefit the middleman. He alleged that the Modi government wants to privatize the UPM to benefit large industrialists. “This bill is intended to license hoarders,” he alleged.
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