Monsoon session Day 7: Opposition members sit in protest inside RS after House adjourned
New Delhi, Sep 20: A fresh ruckus erupted in the Upper House after the opposition demanded that the discussion be continued on Monday, since the session was scheduled to end at 1 pm.
Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the discussion should be continued on Monday since majority of the MPs were in favour of that.
"To decide this, we should go by the consensus of the members, not by the numbers of the ruling party," he said. Despite repeated requests, opposition parties arrived at the well of the house to protest against the discussion.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said,"MSPs won't be touched at any cost. Not just these bills, many steps have been taken to double farmers' income in the past six years. There is no need to doubt that farmers will continue to get MSP."
Highlights:
Opposition parties submit a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh.
Speaker Om Birla says House will convene after 4pm
JJP MLA Jogiram Sihag opposes farms bills, joins hands with agitator farmers. Ready to resign, if needed, Sihag says. JJP of Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala is an alliance partner in Haryana's BJP-JJP government.
The Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, were passed by voice vote amid ruckus by Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
The session in the Rajya Sabha has resumed.
Lok Sabha convenes, Congress' leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls for normalcy to return to Rajya Sabha before Lok sabha proceedings begin, because of space sharing by members of both Houses
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid ruckus
Rajya Sabha telecast has been put on mute
TMC MP Derek O'Brien entered the well and showed the House rule book to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, during discussion in the House on agriculture Bills
I'll talk about what BJP's President said about our manifesto. He studied our manifesto & brought out a few points from it to compare with their Bill. Our manifesto is a horse and they have tried to compare it with a donkey: Congress' Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha
PM should explain why there's a hurry to pass the bills amid pandemic. He should explain what would farm bills do for farming community in short & long term & how it will help in achieving govt's goal of doubling farmers' income: Former PM & JD(S) MP HD Devegowda in Rajya Sabha
PM has said that the government is not ending the MSP system. It is just a rumour. So, did a union minister resign on the basis of a rumour? : Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in Rajya Sabha
Can the Government assure the country that after the passing of the agriculture reform Bills, farmers' income will double and no farmer will commit suicide?....A special session should be called to discuss these Bills: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in Rajya Sabha
These Bills should be sent to a select committee so that all stakeholders can be heard...Don't think that the farmers of Punjab are weak: SAD MP Naresh Gujral, in Rajya Sabha, on agriculture Bills
Uproar by Congress MPs in Rajya Sabha after YSRCP MP VV Reddy says, "There is no reason for Congress to oppose these Bills. Congress is a party of middlemen 'dalals'."
Congress MP Anand Sharma demands apology from him. Dr L Hanumanthaiah says, "nothing will go on record".
Farmers who contribute at least 20% to the total GDP of the country, will be made slaves by these Bill. It will kill the farmers and make them a commodity: DMK MP TKS Elangovan, in Rajya Sabha, on agriculture Bills
It appears that there is a compulsion that the ruling party doesn't want a debate or discussion on these Bills. They are only rushing through these Bills. You have not even consulted any farmer associations: Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav in Rajya Sabha
PM said that Opposition is misleading the farmers. You (Centre) said double farmer income by 2022. But, at current rates, the farmer income will not be doubled before 2028. Your credibility is low to make promises: TMC MP Derek O'Brien in Rajya Sabha, on agriculture Bills
Derek O'Brien says agri schemes in Bengal are better than Centre's
"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," BJP MP from Rajasthan Bhupendra Yadav asked Congress leaders in the Upper House.
BJP MP Bhupender Yadav responds to criticisms raised against the Agri Bills. "You ruled the country for years but still couldn't minimise the ratio between rural and urban income. These bills will ensure justice to farmers -- something they have been looking forward to for the last 70 years. These bills will also empower the farmers digitally. There is a need to strengthen trade, processing and value addition."
Yadav reads from a report from UPA era that spoke of 'distress selling' of farm produce due to lack of options
This govt trying to implement some of the recommendations mooted by the UPA. This is being opposed due to petty politics, he says.
CPI(M)'s KK Ragesh, TMC's Derek O'Brien and DMK's T Siva moved an amendment to send the two farms Bills to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar today moved the Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, in the Upper House.
Rajya Sabha session will begin shortly
Parliament Monsoon Session likely to be cut short in wake of coronavirus crisis
Bills for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha:
- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
- The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
- The Essential Commodities (Amedment) Bill, 2020
- The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
- The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020