INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Opposing the ordinances in the Lower House, the Congress pointed out that farmers of Punjab and Haryana have protested
against the Bills
New Delhi: The Centre on Monday introduced three Bills in the Lok Sabha on farm sector, with Union
minister Narendra Singh Tomar asserting that they will help farmers get a remunerative price for their produce as well as private
investments and technology.Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced The Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And
Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential
Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which will replace ordinances promulgated by the government earlier.He said the proposed laws will enable
barrier-free trade in agricultural produce, and also empower farmers to engage with investors of their choice.The minister said that these
steps are only the latest in a series of measures taken by the government as part of its continuous commitment to championing the cause of
welfare of the farmers of India.Tomar said that almost 86 percent of farmers have agricultural land of less than two hectares and they are
often unable to benefit from minimum support price (MSPs).He, however, assured the House that the MSP will stay.The Congress and other
parties have been opposing the legislations, alleging it will undermine the safety net provided to the farmers by the MSP system and will
lead to their exploitation by big companies.Tomar said the bill will help the farmers as they are unable to invest much in their farm and do
not attract investments from others.He also rejected the criticism that it was beyond the remit of the Union government to legislate on
these issues, saying Opposition members should trust the Centre.The Opposition has alleged that the Centre brought in the legislations
without consulting the states under whose domain 'agriculture' and 'mandis' come.The minister asked the opposition members to study the
content of the bills deeply before "running to oppose them".He stressed that farmers will get a lot of benefit from these laws as they can
enter into an agreement with private traders for selling their produce.These agreements will be about the produce and not the farmland, he
asserted, rebutting suggestions that farmers may lose ownership of their land.Opposing the Bills, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said constitutional provisions are very clear that agriculture is a subject on the State List."Such a law can only be
brought by state governments
Through this bill, the centre will nullify Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) law enacted by various state governments," Chowdhury
said.The central government is not competent to make such a law, he asserted, adding,"This is a case of legislative overreach and a direct
attack on the federal structure of the Constitution."Chowdhury pointed out that farmers of Punjab and Haryana are protesting against these
bills.TMC member Saugata Roy claimed that farming will move into the hands of capitalists due to these legislations.Congress MP Shashi
Tharoor said the bill violates the basic tenets of federalism enshrined in India's Constitution."It is beyond the legislative competence of
this house to enact any law on agriculture, which is a domain of the state governments," Tharoor said.The bill endangers the right to food
of the countrymen, he added.The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, bars state governments from
imposing taxes on sale and purchase of farm produce undertaken outside the mandis and give farmers the freedom to sell their produce at
remunerative prices.Besides, any conflicts arising from the transactions will be dealt with exclusively by the Sub Division Magistrate (SDM)
and District Collectorate within 30 days and not in the jurisdiction of civil courts.At present, farmers are allowed to sell their
agriculture produce at 6,900-odd APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees) mandis spread across the nation
There are restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce outside the mandis.The ordinances were promulgated on 5 June, 2020
However, the Union Agriculture Ministry notified them on 20 July.Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on
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