‘Bid to bring back repealed farm laws’: Punjab MLAs united in rejecting draft agri policy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution against the Centre's draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, calling it an attempt to bring back the three farm laws repealed by the Centre in 2021.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP-led Centre of being "inimical to farmers" as Punjab MLAs across parties, except the two of BJP who stayed away, unanimously supported the resolution on the last day of the special session of the assembly. Winding up discussions on the resolution, Mann said, "The Centre has hatred against Punjab. Either BJP has a grouse as the party doesn't win in the state or it has no electoral prospects here. They only want to trouble us. The farmers' protest forced the Prime Minister to take back the three farm laws – the only decision he had to take back in his 11-year tenure."
Mann said the state govt had not only rejected the draft policy, but would also follow it up so that the Centre does not succeed in its "nefarious designs" and the state had hired the best legal brains to safeguard the interests of the state.
He added the draft policy was silent on minimum support price (MSP), which has made farmers apprehensive of the Centre and suspect it would do away with procurement of wheat and paddy on MSP. He said though Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasts a lot about the initiatives undertaken by his govt for food growers, he and his government are inimical to farmers, especially from Punjab, at heart.
Open Shambhu, Khanauri lifelines: Arora
Cabinet minister Aman Arora also suggested that Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher should be urged to lift their protest from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, as it had cut off the state, thereby impacting industry and trade of the state. "A House committee can be constituted to convince farmers' leaders to lift their dharnas. By rising above party lines, if the House agrees, we should request Dallewal that we support your demands, but the roads should be opened. If industry and trade suffers, how will Punjab thrive?" he said.
There was thumping of desks in the treasury and opposition benches to Arora's suggestion. Congress MLA Pargat Singh, meanwhile, said highways were actually blocked by the Haryana govt and people of Punjab were not even allowed to go to the national capital.
Cong lends ‘conditional support'
Expressing his party's "conditional support" to the resolution, Congress MLA and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa accused the BJP of being "anti-Punjab" and making attempts to weaken Punjab "economically and politically". "The BJP only serves the interests of multinational companies and big corporations and is least bothered about working for the interests of farmers and other unprivileged sections," he said.
Bajwa said the draft policy would be fatal for the farming sector of Punjab, and the Punjab Congress was prepared to support Punjab govt against the same. "The Punjab Congress can do anything to defend the interests of Punjab. The Shanta Kumar Commission on agriculture had recommended dismantling the Food Corporation of India (FCI). BJP govt under Narendra Modi is still pursuing the same," said Bajwa.
Bajwa also slammed the AAP government for its failure to defend the case against the Centre in the Supreme Court to get the rural development fund (RDF) released.
Pvt markets will destroy mandis: Resolution
The resolution read, "The House feels the draft policy is an attempt to bring back the contentious provisions of the three farm laws repealed in 2021. Since the issue is a state subject as per the Constitution, the Centre should not come up with any such policy and should leave it to the wisdom of the states to frame suitable policies."
"The House recommends to the Punjab govt to take a firm stand on the issue so that the thriving APMC mandis in the state can be protected and strengthened. The House also recommends taking up the issue with the Centre so that no further transgression happens in the legislative domain of the state," it added. It said that with the advent of private markets, APMC markets will be destroyed. "Farmers will be at the mercy of the owners of private markets. Contract farming is a concern for farmers and the draft policy encourages its promotion," adding that the policy undermines the state's authority over agricultural matters.
BJP MLAs stay away
The two BJP MLAs, Ashwani Sharma and Jangi Lal Mahajan, were not present during the discussion on the draft policy. The resolution was moved by state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
Where is state agri policy: Sandeep Jakhar
Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar, meanwhile, questioned the treasury benches over the alleged delay in unveiling the state's agricultural policy. He said the document should offer a roadmap on how to bring farmers out of the present crisis facing the agriculture sector. He also suggested the state govt to take initiatives like announcing MSP in the interest of farmers.
1st state to reject draft policy: AAP
AAP Tuesday hailed Punjab assembly's move to reject the Centre's Centre's draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, saying that it was the first state in the country to do so. AAP senior spokesperson Neel Garg called it a historic day. "Modi govt's draft was a direct attack on the rights of Punjab and its farmers. Mann Government has shown unparalleled commitment to safeguarding the interests of the state's farming community," he said.
Garg recalled that when the draft was initially sent by the Centre, Punjab's agriculture minister had consulted all stakeholders, including farmer unions, labourers, commission agents (arhtiyas) and other agricultural representatives. During these discussions, it became evident that the proposal was against Punjab's interests and would harm farmers in the long run, he said.