New Delhi: Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal today resigned as Union Minister of Food Processing Industries in protest against “anti-farmer” ordinances and legislation. In a tweet she also said that she was “Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter and sister”.
Her husband and President of Shiromani Akali Dal – a constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party – led ruling National Democratic Alliance — said while participating in the debate on the two farm bills in Lok Sabha today, announced that Harsimrat “will resign from the government”. He strongly opposed the three agri related Bills in Lok Sabha, stating they would sound the death knell for 20 lakh farmers, 3 lakh mandi labourers,30 lakh khet mazdoor (farm labourers) and 30000 arhatiyas besides destroying the food grain procurement system established over 50 years.
“Punjab supplied 80 per cent of food grain requirement in 1980 and continues to supply 50% food grains even today. Punjab has also sacrificed its wealth–its water resources for the nation. Punjab farmers have always produced food grain for the State through thick and thin,” he said, and added that “We also conveyed the same to Union agri minister and held talks with farmer representatives and experts. We even conveyed apprehensions felt by farmers to the Centre but they were not addressed. This is why SAD has chosen to oppose the Bills today”.
In the meantime, Lok Sabha passed The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
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Replying to the discussion on the Bills before they were passed by the Lok Sabha today, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar sought to reassure that farmers will now be “freed from the restrictions of having to sell their produce at designated places only”. The Minister further claimed that the procurement at Minimum Support Price will continue and mandis established under State laws will also continue to operate. According to Tomar, these legislations will bring about revolutionary transformation and transparency in the agriculture sector, electronic trading will increase, there will be accelerated agricultural growth as private investment will be attracted in building supply chains and agricultural infrastructure, new employment opportunities will be created and rural economy will get a boost, which will in turn help to strengthen the national economy.
It may be mentioned that the tabling of these bills in Parliament had caused widespread protests also by a leading farmers’ organisation, the Bharatiya Kisan Union, and its leaders had sent a letter to the Prime Minister telling him to withdraw the bills because “these laws will make them captive of companies and corporate”.
– globalbihari bureau
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