On day seven of the monsoon session of the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha is discussing the contentious agri Bills that were passed in the Lok Sabha amid widespread protest.
Also read: Why are the Agriculture Bills being opposed
The monsoon session of the Parliament, which was scheduled to end on October 1, is likely to be cut short owing to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. A final end date is yet to be fixed, though sources indicated that it could end on Wednesday.
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Here are the latest updates:
Read your own manifesto first: BJP MP reacts to Congress criticism
Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil says these two Agri Bills will ruin farmers.
Reacting to this, BJP MP Surendra Singh Nagar says Congress MPs should first read their own manifesto. He points out that Kerala, where Congress leaders get elected from, does not have an Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act.
What is the compulsion to pass these Bills now, asks Tiruchi Siva
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says we need to read between the lines to understand the compulsion to pass these agri Bills.
"When farmers were agitating across the country, you didn't even listen to them. But now you are saying you are helping the farmers," says Mr. Tiruchi Siva.
Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa too lends his voice to the Opposition's demand that the Bills be sent to a select committee or any other committee that speaks to farmers. He also asks that Punjab and Haryana be exempted from the Bills.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh says his party opposes the Bills.
If scrapping MSP is just a rumour, why did a Minister resign over it, asks Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut asks the Agriculture Minister if he can assure the country that with these Bills, farmers' income will double, that no farmer will die by suicide and that their children will not go to bed hungry.
If it just a rumour that MSP won't be ended, why did a Minister of the government resign on the basis of a rumour, he asks.
CPI MP Binoy Viswam says that these Bills are the death knell of the Indian farmers.
He asks the Minister to move an amendment saying MSPs will not be done away with. Even though we oppose you politically, the CPI will support the Bills if you do so, he says.
NCP MP Praful Patel opines that the government should have consulted experienced leaders like Sharad Pawar and Parkash Singh Badal before coming up with the Bills.
BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra says that the primary reason for farmers' agitation is uncertainity regarding Minimum Support Price. Will MSP be done with, he asks. If you had clarified this in the Bill or rules, then the discussion would be different, he tells the government.
LJD MP M.V. Shreyams Kumar asks the House to send the Bills to a select committee.
Tamil Maanila Congress MP G.K. Vasan says his party supports the Bills, but adds that the Agriculture Minister should address the doubts of farmers.
IUML MP Abdul Wahab says he opposes the Bills. The Bill will end up with the Supreme Court if it is passed, he says and echoes the demand of previous speakers that the Bills be sent to a select committee.
Don't think Punjab's farmers are weak, warns Akali Dal MP
Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral starts speaking by saying that he wants the farmers to know that the Parliament is giving his party just two minutes to speak because of Harsimrat Kaur Badal's resignation.
"There is a trust deficit or communication gap which is reflected in the contents of the Bills, which is why we are telling this party to send it to select committee," he says.
Don't think Punjab's farmers are weak, he warns the government.
BJD MP Amar Patnaik says revolution of markets was long overdue. These two Bills are largely good on intent, but ignores implementation, he says.
He says there is possibility of cartelisation, and asks that the Bills be sent to a select committee.
Referring to the farmer protests against the Bills, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha says farmers have issued a whip. "You have to decide if you want to stick to party lines," he says, alluding to the Chief Whip-system in the Parliament.
If the Bill is passed, you are writing the obituary of farmers, he tells the Agriculture Minister.
"This won't be restricted to Haryana and Punjab, it will go to Bihar. I would like to ask the BJP — what are you doing," says Mr. Jha.
Modi model of preventing farmer suicide is not publishing data on the same: Ragesh
Speaking on the Bills, CPI (M) K.K. Ragesh says that the government had promised that the farmers' income would double by 2020. Did that happen, he asks.
He says that instead, farmer suicides have doubled. And the government has found out a shortcut to prevent farmer suicide, by not publishing data regarding farmer suicide since 2016, says Mr. Ragesh.
This is the Modi model of preventing farmers suicide, he says.
"This is unfettered liberalisation of Indian agriculture. The government is abdicating its responsibility. There are some restrictions of the mandi system which need to be rectified. But mandi system offers remunerative prices to farmers," says Mr. Ragesh.
There should be a provision to declare MSPs for all agriculture produce in the Bill, he says.
JD(U) MP Ram Chandra Prasad Singh says he supports both Bills.
He says that farmers in Bihar are getting MSP even after the State government did away with APMC in 2006, and hence worries that MSP will be affected by these amendments is unnecessary.
He suggests that farmers should get some minimum guarantee of how much income they can make per hectare.
Congress being hypocritical, says Vijaisai Reddy
YSRCP MP V. Vijaisai Reddy says that he supports the Bills. However, why is tobacco farmers not included in ther purview of it, he asks.
He accuses the Congress of being hypocritical as it had included similar promises in its manifesto. He accuses Congress party using strong words.
Brief ruckus as Congress members react to this angrily. Party leader Anand Sharma asks him to retract the statement and apologise for the same. Vice Chairman L. Hanumanthaiah says it will be examined and taken out of the records.
DMK MP T.K.S Elangovan says the two Bills are an insult to farmers.
The Bills seeks to repeal the ordinance and the promise of the government to implement M.S. Swaminathan Committee's recommendations, he says.
This Bill will lead to farmers becoming slaves and commodities, Mr. Elangovan adds.
TRS MP Dr. K. Keshava Rao says that the Agriculture Minister claimed that this is a Bill for new-age agriculture, adding that he is against it.
These Bills are an assault on state rights and Constitution, he says.
Difficult to believe these Bills are being put forth by the son of a farmer, says SP MP
Samajwadi Party MP Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav says it seems there is some compulsion that the ruling party doesn't want to discuss or debate on any Bills, and accuses them of rushing to pass Bills without proper discussion.
"You didn't consult anyone before bringing these ordinances during the COVID-19 pandemic. You should have at least consulted the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh," says Mr. Yadav.
"Like BSNL is being suffocated by Jio, now farmers too will have to go through the same ordeal. How will farmers compete with big companies," he asks.
Taking a jab at the Agriculture Minister, Prof. Yadav says that it is difficult to look at the contents of the Bills knowing that it has been put forth by the son of a farmer.
These Bills reduce a farmer to a farm worker, says AIADMK MP
AIADMK MP S.R. Balasubramoniyan says if the two Agri Bills are passed, a farmer will be reduced to a farm worker.
Big companies will take over large swathes of land, he says.
How many BJP MPs have read these 2 Bills, asks Derek O'Brien
Next, it is Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien's turn to speak on the Agricultural Bills.
You promised farmers that their income will double by 2022, but at current rate it will not double even by 2028, he says.
Your credibility is low to make such promises, Mr. O'Brien tells BJP.
"This is an issue affecting federalism. States will not be able to ensure farmers' interest," says the TMC MP.
How many BJP MPs have read these 2 Bills, he asks.
BJP MP Bhupender Yadav continues to speak on the Agri Bills.
"Contract farming is not a new idea. It has started in Punjab. In Haryana, it was started during Congress' Bhupinder Singh Hooda-government's tenure," says Mr. Yadav.
We aren't talking about taking farmers' land, he says.
"Farmers are only a vote bank for you. For us, farmers are a community to take the country forward," says the BJP MP.
Why has rural income reduced in the years Congress were in power, asks BJP MP
BJP MP Bhupender Yadav responds to criticisms raised against the Agri Bills.
He says the country is moving forward. Why has rural income reduced over the years you were in power, he asks Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa, who spoke against the Bills.
There is a need to strengthen trade, processing and value addition, says Mr. Yadav.
"Working group on agriculture production set up by Manmohan Singh government in 2010 recommended that APMC and corporate license monopolies should not be allowed. This is your report, your conclusions, so why are you playing politics today," he asks Congress.
Farmers understand this is a way to do away with MSP: Bajwa
Continuing his speech against the Agriculture Bills, Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa asks:
"What is the need to bring these Bills now? Nearly one lakh Indians are getting COVID-19 every day and China is breathing down your neck," reminds Mr. Bajwa.
Farmers don't want this benefit that you claim are for them; then why are you trying to force feed them, he asks.
"Farmers are not illiterate. They understand that this is a way to do away with MSP. Once this is passed, corporate houses will take over farmlands," says the Congress MP, and compares it to the East India Company and the Portuguese invasion of India.
We will not sign on this death warrant of farmers, says Congress MP
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 are being considered together.
Discussion begins with Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa saying that all farmers, particularly farmers in Punjab and Haryana, think these Bills are an attack on their soul.
"These Bills are ill-conceived and ill-timed and the Congress opposes it. We will not sign on this death warrant of farmers," says Mr. Bajwa.
Agri Bills not related to MSP, says Minister
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar moves two Bills for consideration: the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
The Agriculture Minister says the two Bills, which have been passed by Lok Sabha, are historic and will bring revolutionary change. Farmers will have the freedom to sell their produce wherever they want, he says.
These Bills are not related to MSP, he says, adding that there appears to be some "incorrect information" doing rounds in this regard.
K.K. Ragesh, Derek O'Brien and Tiruchi Siva move motions to send both Bills to a select committee.
Special mentions begin.
CPI(M) MP K.K. Ragesh moves statutory resolution disapproving of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020.
Zero Hour continues.
BJP MP Saroj Pandey says Chhattisgarh has not fully implemented Ayushman Bharat and it's become a victim of politics.
TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar says people who visit Tirupati temple should continue to give a declaration that they believe in Balaji.
Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh says courts in Bihar have not been fully functional due to COVID-19 and the number of prisoners has increased from 40,000 to 50,000. He asks the government to decongest the jails.
Zero Hour begins.
Congress MP Rajmani Patel raises issue of private schools charging hefty fees. He asks the government to come up with a policy to curtail the same.
RJD MP Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha says COVID-19 and floods have hit Bihar together. He says we need to find a permanent solution to the frequent flooding.
BPF MP Biswajit Daimary raises the matter of five men from Arunachal Pradesh being taken by Chinese. He says Arunachal Pradesh is also tense, like Ladakh. He adds that in terms of infrastructure, the roads till Tawang need to be improved.
Rajya Sabha proceedings begin.
Former Prime Minister and newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP H.D. Deve Gowda takes the oath. Welcoming him, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu says that Mr. Deve Gowda is a good addition to the House. One of the senior most politicians in the country has come to our House, says the Chairman.
Papers being laid by MoS Parliamentary Affairs. Chairman says MPs Ranjan Gogoi, Vaiko and Revati Raman Singh have asked for leave for the whole session. House grants them leave of absence.
Bills for Consideration and Passing
- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bil l, 2020
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
- Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Bill for Introduction
- Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020
Bills for consideration and passing
- National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020
- Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020
- Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020
- Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020