CHANDIGARH: Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution moved by chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh rejecting the Centre’s farm ordinances and the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported it, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) members were not present in the House.
Through the resolution, the House urged the Centre to "withdraw the farm ordinances and also the proposed Electricity Bill forthwith; and instead, promulgate a fresh ordinance making the procurement of foodgrains and other agricultural produce at the MSP, a statutory right of the farmers and continuation of government procurement through the Food Corporation of India."
"Water and MSP are our lifelines. This is the second time that the precious resources of Punjab are being encroached," said Amarinder, adding, "The first attempt was in 2004 when the Vidhan Sabha cancelled the river water-sharing agreement and saved the state and its agrarian economy ."
‘Resolution will be sent to both Houses of Parliament’
Terming the farm ordinances "anti-farmer" and anti-Punjab", Amarinder said these could push the state back into the chaosfilled era of the 80s which the border state cannot afford as Pakistan is waiting for such a scenario.
"The Punjab Assembly is seriously concerned about the apprehensions and anguish caused by the three ordinances," read the resolution. The CM said it will be sent to both the houses of Parliament to convey Punjab’s "vehement remonstration".
He said the price support mechanism was necessary for MSP and ensuring national food security and the ordinances would spell economic ruin for the farming sector of Punjab, especially for the 70% having less than 5 acres. "The Shanta Kumar Committee’s recommendations that are the progenitors of these ordinances would result in the repercussions for farmers as the FCI would be wound up and so would the Punjab Mandi Board," he said.
Mocking the Akali Dal (SAD) for not being present in the House, Amarinder said the party which brought Anandpur Sahib Resolution, knowingly absented itself from the Vidhan Sabha on such a significant occasion.
Amarinder also urged other agriculture-based states, especially Haryana, to come forward to oppose the ordinances.
While welcoming the resolution, AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that it was only in Punjab and Haryana that MSP was paid to farmers. "A similar law was introduced in Bihar but it hasn’t improved the stock of farmers there," he said.
Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjit Singh Bains made an appeal to the BJP to support the resolution in the interest of Punjab so that it could be passed unanimously.
BJP MLA Dinesh Singh, defended the ordinances and said that an attempt was being made to mislead the farmers as there is no move to put an end to the mandi system or the role of commission agents in the new regime.
The resolution was passed by majority.
Through the resolution, the House urged the Centre to "withdraw the farm ordinances and also the proposed Electricity Bill forthwith; and instead, promulgate a fresh ordinance making the procurement of foodgrains and other agricultural produce at the MSP, a statutory right of the farmers and continuation of government procurement through the Food Corporation of India."
"Water and MSP are our lifelines. This is the second time that the precious resources of Punjab are being encroached," said Amarinder, adding, "The first attempt was in 2004 when the Vidhan Sabha cancelled the river water-sharing agreement and saved the state and its agrarian economy ."
‘Resolution will be sent to both Houses of Parliament’
Terming the farm ordinances "anti-farmer" and anti-Punjab", Amarinder said these could push the state back into the chaosfilled era of the 80s which the border state cannot afford as Pakistan is waiting for such a scenario.
"The Punjab Assembly is seriously concerned about the apprehensions and anguish caused by the three ordinances," read the resolution. The CM said it will be sent to both the houses of Parliament to convey Punjab’s "vehement remonstration".
He said the price support mechanism was necessary for MSP and ensuring national food security and the ordinances would spell economic ruin for the farming sector of Punjab, especially for the 70% having less than 5 acres. "The Shanta Kumar Committee’s recommendations that are the progenitors of these ordinances would result in the repercussions for farmers as the FCI would be wound up and so would the Punjab Mandi Board," he said.
Mocking the Akali Dal (SAD) for not being present in the House, Amarinder said the party which brought Anandpur Sahib Resolution, knowingly absented itself from the Vidhan Sabha on such a significant occasion.
Amarinder also urged other agriculture-based states, especially Haryana, to come forward to oppose the ordinances.
While welcoming the resolution, AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that it was only in Punjab and Haryana that MSP was paid to farmers. "A similar law was introduced in Bihar but it hasn’t improved the stock of farmers there," he said.
Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjit Singh Bains made an appeal to the BJP to support the resolution in the interest of Punjab so that it could be passed unanimously.
BJP MLA Dinesh Singh, defended the ordinances and said that an attempt was being made to mislead the farmers as there is no move to put an end to the mandi system or the role of commission agents in the new regime.
The resolution was passed by majority.
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