The center and the opposition are involved in three agrarian bills
New Delhi:
Despite protests over three agricultural sector bills by the opposition and the revolt by the BJP’s oldest ally, Shiromani Akali Dal, the ruling BJP is confident the numbers are in his favor in Rajya Sabha, where he hopes these bills will be submitted soon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s defense of the three bills and harsh criticism of the opposition for protesting them on Thursday made it clear that he remains unflappable and that his government will continue to push for parliament approval for measures aimed at open private avenues for farmers to sell. their products.
His assertion came amid Congress and several other parties, in addition to SAD, speaking out strongly against these bills, calling them “anti-farmers.”
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have protested against these proposed laws that their leaders allege will end up dismantling their existing government-backed support system.
While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance does not yet have a clear majority of its own in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, many regional parties have backed it in recent sessions to ensure the passage of various government-proposed legislation.
BJP leaders expressed confidence that they will gain the support of more than 130 members, including nine from AIADMK, seven from TRS, and six from YSR Congress, all three of whom are not part of the ruling alliance, if it comes to a division of votes. are looking for in these bills.
The BJP has the highest tally with 86 seats, followed by 40 from Congress.
All three SAD members will likely vote against the bills, but Shiv Sena, a former BJP ally and now in opposition, has expressed his support for these bills. The Maharashtra party has three members in Rajya Sabha.
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 (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services were approved by Lok Sabha on Thursday, while the Essential Products Bill (Amendment) was approved on Tuesday. These bills seek to replace ordinances already enacted by the government.
Speaking at a virtual launch of various rail projects in Bihar, Prime Minister Modi decided to speak extensively about these bills, which have sparked protests from farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana, and sought to allay the concerns of the farming community. assuring them that the government procurement of their products will continue and so will the minimum support price (MSP).
He said these reforms have brought “freedom” to farmers and given them a “shield of protection”, as he accused the opposition of supporting intermediaries and “deceiving” people by “lying to them.”
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