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RS Clears 2 of 3 Farm Bills Amid Protests: Here’s What Went Down

Opposition parties have submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh after two of the three farm Bills were passed in the House on Sunday, 20 September, amid massive uproar and protests.

While Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the passing of the Bills a “watershed moment for Indian agriculture”, TMC MP Derek O’Brien called it the “murder of democracy” accusing the ruling dispensation of censoring the RSTV feed. “They cheated. They broke every rule in Parliament. It was a historic day in the worst sense of the word. They cut RSTV feed so the country couldn't see. They censored RSTV. Don't spread propaganda,” he tweeted.

This comes amid massive protests being staged by farmers across Haryana who have called for a ‘bandh’ in the state and have blocked all major roads including the highways.

Also Read: ‘No Talk With Centre Till Farm Bills Withdrawn’: Sukhbir Badal

House members and opposition leaders K K Ragesh, Derek O'Brien, Trichi Siva (DMK) and KC Venugopal also moved resolutions for sending the two Bills to a select committee of the House for consideration.

BJP Deems the Bills ‘Historic’ & ‘Revolutionary’

While moving the Bills in the Rajya Sabha, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the minimum support price or MSP-based procurement of agriculture crops from farmers will continue and is not related to the farm Bills. He further termed the bills as “historic” and said that they will bring a “revolutionary” change in the lives of farmers.

"“The farmers will be able to freely trade their produce anywhere in the country. I want to assure the farmers that these Bills are not related to Minimum Support Price.”" - Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister‘The Bills Pave Way for Big Corporate Houses to Enter the Market’: Congress

Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa called the farm sector Bills – two of which were tabled in the Parliament – “death warrant for farmers”. Speaking on the floor of the House, Bajwa said, “Farmers are not illiterate. They understand that this is a way to do away with the MSP (Minimum Support Price). Once this is passed the government will come out of this and then Ambani, Adani and big corporate houses will enter the market.”

Calling the Bills “ill-timed”, Bajwa also said that agriculture and markets are state subjects and the Bills are against the spirit of federal cooperative, and farmers especially in Punjab and Haryana think that this is an attack on their soul.

Also Read: Farm Bills: Punjab Farmers Body Announces Rail Roko Agitation

‘All Stakeholders Should Be Heard’: Ally Akali Dal to BJP

Among the parties opposing the farm Bills is also BJP’s ally Shiromani Akali Dal. Speaking for the party, MP Naresh Gujral said that the Bills should not be passed until all stakeholders are taken in confidence. “Farmers are not happy with these Bills. They feel that their interests are being sold to corporates and big business houses,” he said.

Earlier, as the Bills were presented in the Lok Sabha, Akali Dal Leader and Union Cabinet minister Harsimrat Kaur Badar resigned from the government in protest.

As the Bills were tabled in the Rajya Sabha, Gujral also demanded that it should be sent to a select committee “so that all stakeholders can be heard”.

Other parties including the Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the DMK also opposed the Bills and accused the BJP of wanting to hurry the Bills through the Parliament without necessary discussions.

Also Read: Oppn Slams Govt Over Farm Bills as Centre Set to Table Them in RS

. Read more on India by The Quint.India’s COVID-19 Tally Crosses 54 Lakh Mark, Says Health MinistryRS Clears 2 of 3 Farm Bills Amid Protests: Here’s What Went Down . Read more on India by The Quint.