Updated: September 19, 2020 3:49:40 pm
The main leader of Congress, P Chidambaram, called on Saturday that Congress and other opposition parties oppose the agricultural bills and make sure they do not become law. (Express file photo)
As the government prepares to introduce three controversial agricultural bills in Rajya Sabha, former Finance Minister and senior congressional leader P Chidambaram on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP spokesmen of “ deliberately and maliciously distorting ” the Manifesto of Congress on the subject.
In defense of Congress’ promise to repeal the APMC Act, Chidambaram said in a statement: “The Prime Minister and BJP spokesmen have deliberately and maliciously distorted the Manifesto of Congress. We promised to promote Agricultural Producer Companies / Organizations to allow farmers to access inputs, technology and markets; and establish farmers markets with the appropriate infrastructure and support in villages large and small so that the farmer can bring his products and trade them freely.
Chidambaram’s statement came a day before the government listed the three agricultural bills: the Trade and Trade in Agricultural Products (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill of 2020 and the Agricultural Price and Services Guarantee Agreement of Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) 2020, for consideration and approval in the Upper House on Sunday. These bills have already been approved by the Lok Sabha. Earlier this week, the government had introduced three agricultural bills to replace ordinances enacted on June 5 this year.
The senior congressional leader urged opposition parties to “unite to oppose the bills.” “Congress and other Opposition parties must come together to oppose the bills in all forums and make sure they do not become law in their current form,” he said.
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“All parties have to take a position: is it with the farmers or is it with the BJP that it threatens the farmers’ livelihoods?” Chidambaram asked.
Farmers in Haryana and Punjab are protesting the bills because they fear that the new legislation will lead to the end of the existing minimum price support (MSP) system for public distribution system (PDS).
Describing the MSP, public procurement and PDS as the “three pillars” of the country’s food security, Chidambaram said: “The bills undermine the three pillars of our food security system.”
In attacking the ruling party, the leader of Congress said: “The BJP is caught in a web of its own making. For decades it was, and still is, a party dominated by merchants and merchants. They exploited an economy that was affected by a shortage of goods and services. That situation began to change with the Green Revolution (started by Indira Gandhi) and liberalization (introduced by PV Narasimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh) ”.
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“Today our farmers produce huge surpluses in many agricultural products, especially wheat and rice. With the strength of our farmers, successive governments of Congress built, brick by brick, a food security system, which culminated in the National Food Security Law of 2013, ”he added.
“Farmers need multiple markets and accessible options. Congressional proposals would have given them that. Once this is achieved, the Manifesto of Congress promises to repeal the APMC Act and making the trade in agricultural products free would be a natural sequel over time, “he said.
Highlighting the shortcomings in the agricultural bills introduced by the NDA government, he said: “While our promise is clear, the Modi government has surrendered to businesses and traders.”
While the BJP, with 86 seats, is the largest Rajya Sabha party with 245 members, the ruling alliance does not reach a majority. The Congress (40 seats) and the All India Trinamool Congress (13 seats) are the second and third largest parties in Rajya Sabha, respectively.
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