Sonia Gandhi tells Congress-ruled states to override farm bills

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday advised the Congress-ruled states to explore the possibilities to pass laws in their respective states under Article 254(2) of the Constitution which allows the state legislatures to pass a law to negate the Anti-Agriculture Central laws encroaching upon State's jurisdiction under the Constitution.

New Delhi: A day after President of India, Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the farm bills, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday, asked her party ruled states to pass a law that can override Central Government's Agriculture laws.

In a statement released by Congress General Secretary In-charge KC Venugopal, it has been stated, "Hon'ble Congress President has advised the Congress-ruled states to explore the possibilities to pass laws in their respective states under Article 254(2) of the Constitution which allows the state legislatures to pass a law to negate the Anti-Agriculture Central laws encroaching upon State's jurisdiction under the Constitution."

Amid the aggressive protests by farmers, President Kovind signed off the farm bills, last night, making the laws in the country. While Congress-led protest marches in each state against these laws, the Government of India is still claiming that these laws are a massive reform measure.

While explaining about the advice given by Sonia Gandhi, Venugopal said in his statement, "This would enable the states to bypass the unacceptable anti-farmers' provisions in the three draconian Agriculture laws including the abolition of MSP and disruption of APMCs in Congress-ruled states."

"This would also alleviate farmers from the grave injustice done by Modi Government and BJP," he further added.

Earlier today, all Pradesh Congress Committees held protests against these farm laws and submitted a memorandum against the Central Government to the Governors of respective states. Punjab Youth Congress workers even burnt a tractor near India Gate, marking a protest against the Modi Government.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh sat on a dharna to protest and also said that his Government will move to Supreme Court to challenge these laws.

"We'll be going to the Supreme Court. Agriculture is a state subject but farm bills have been passed without asking us. It is totally unconstitutional."

Thousands of Congress workers also get detained in various states. PCC Presidents including Ajay Kumar Lallu, Anil Chaudhary, Amit Chavda and many other leaders were held by the Police officials.

Congress is opposing Central Government's three bills including Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

However, the BJP-led Central Government is repeatedly alleging that Congress is trying to "mislead" the farmers on these agriculture laws as this would make the farmers free from the clutches of middlemen and they will be able to sell their produce directly to the corporates.