Contract farming will benefit corporates: Opposition on farm bills in Rajya Sabha

On the seventh day of the monsoon session of the Parliament, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced the two farm bills - 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 Rajya Sabha.

On Sunday, Rajya Sabha started with heated debate on the controversial bills.

Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa said that the bills are to benefit corporates like Adani's and Ambani and farmers will not agree to this ever.The MP further stated that contract farming in US led to corporate takeover of the land.

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said that how will Mandi's fight agianst corporates, it will be same like BSNL dying in front of Jio.

The bills is to benefit corporates like Adani's and Ambani and farmers will not agree to #FarmBills ever: @Partap_Sbajwa @NewIndianXpress

— richa sharma (@richa_TNIE) September 20, 2020

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, said TMC MP Derek O'Brien.

On the other hand, BJP leader Bhupender Yadav said that the government will continue procuring crops for MSP and it is only providing option to farmers.

AIADMK MP SR Balasubramoniyam said that the Farm bills are like disinvestment in Indian farming sector providing entry of big corporates in farming sector while state governments will be reduced to a mute spectator.

"Is the bill ony for big farmers? There is a huge miscommunication. I urge to sending these bills for further review," said BJD MP Amar Patnaik.

In a big display of support, YSRC MP Vijayasai Reddy displayed Congress' 2019 election manifesto which mention abolition of mandis. 

Congress has no reason to oppose but because it is a party of middleman dalals, he added leading to break ruckus in Rajya Sabha.

Tamil Manila Congress MP GK Vasan supported the bill after registering his apprehensions.

An ally of BJP, the AIADMK MP added that contract farming is done at the expense of farmers and urged the government to remember Champanran Satyagraha.

K K Ragesh (CPI), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Trichi Siva (DMK) and K C Venugopal (Congress) moved resolutions for sending the two bills to a select committee of the House for consideration before they are taken up for passage.

Earlier, the bills were passed by the Lower House with a voice vote a couple of days back.

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The government claims the legislations will transform the sector and raise farmers’ income.

Farmers across Haryana, Punjab, Telangana and other states are erupting in protest against the bill fearing loss of income.

Punjab and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet protesting against the three farm sector bills.

Though the Centre hopes the legislative proposals will sail through, it is going to be a numbers game as some regional parties have not indicated which way they will vote. Plus, around two dozen Rajya Sabha members are absent on health grounds, which will bring down the strength of the House.

(With agencies inputs)