Monsoon Session 2020: Amid Protests & Oppn Uproar, 3 Crucial Farm Bills To Be Presented In Rajya Sabha Today

The 3 controversial Farm Bills will be presented in the Rajya Sabha today. Amid massive furore by the opposition parties, SAD has issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members to vote against the bills.

Photo Courtesy: PTI

Monsoon Session 2020: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed 2 Agricultural bills related to Agri Market reforms and farmers' provision and a separate bill amending Essential Commodities Act was passed on Tuesday. The passing of bills raised a furore among the opposition parties and they called it 'Anti-Farmers Bill' slamming the central government. The Farm Bills also led to the resignation of Union Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal as a sign of protest which has soured ties of the SAD-NDA 30-year-old alliance. Also Read|Sukhbir Singh Badal To Review Ties With NDA After Harsimrat Kaur's Resignation, 'Ready To Make Sacrifice For Farmers' The 3 Agricultural bills will be presented in the Rajya Sabha today for its complete approval and implementation. Protests by political parties and a section of farm organisations against the 3 Farm Bills have heated up in the Parliament but the central govt has kept its stand that the bills will bring huge reforms in the agricultural sector. PM Modi tweeted after Harsimrat Kaur's resignation and “The passage of historic agrarian reform bills in the Lok Sabha is an important moment for the farmers and agriculture sector of the country. These bills will truly free the farmers from middlemen and all obstacles.” "This agrarian reform will provide new opportunities for farmers to sell their produce, which will increase their profits. With this, our agriculture sector will get the benefit of modern technology, whereas the farmers will be empowered", he said. "Many forces are engaged in confusing the farmers. I assure my farmer brothers and sisters that the system of MSP and government procurement will remain the same. These bills are really going to empower the farmers by giving them many more options", he added.

SAD asks Rajya Sabha MPs to oppose farm Bills

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday issued a whip to its members in the Rajya Sabha, asking them to oppose the Centre's farm-related legislation in the House. It was issued by the party's chief whip, Naresh Gujral. They were directed to opposed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020; Farmers' Produce, Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; and Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. SAD chief and Ferozepur Lok Sabha MP Sukhbir Singh Badal too had on Tuesday voted against the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the lower house of Parliament. The party has three members in the Rajya Sabha--Naresh Gujral, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.