Punjab CM moves resolution against Centre's farm laws, tables counter Bills

After the early adjournment on the first day of the special Assembly session, the Punjab government today introduced three Bills to counter the Centre's contentious farm laws. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also moved a draft resolution rejecting the Centre's farm laws.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday moved a draft resolution in the state assembly against the contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre recently.

The resolution was moved by the Leader of the House on the second day of a special assembly session here over the new farm laws.

The chief minister also introduced three bills to counter the Centre's farm laws.

The three bills introduced by Singh are -- the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill 2020, the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020.

Addressing the members of the House, Singh said agriculture is a state subject but the Centre ignored it.

Read:Punjab AAP MLAs stage sit-in, demand copies of proposed farm bill

The Chief Minister said that the three Bills (now laws) passed by the Parliament are against the interest of farmers. "The farm Bills (now laws) were against the interests of the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh."

"I find it very strange what the government of India wants to do," he said.

The Chief Minister said the Bills being presented today would form the basis of the state's legal battle ahead and hence, needed to be thoroughly vetted before presentation.

The draft resolution seeks annulment of the Farm Laws and also the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

Tight slap to Centre: Sidhu

Meanwhile, Amritsar East MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu, who attended the assembly session for the first time since his resignation from the state cabinet last year, lauded the Chief Minister's move.

He said the Punjab CM's decision was a "tight slap" to the Centre, and added that the sound of the slap would reverberate across the nation.

The three farm bills -- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 -- were passed by Parliament recently.

Subsequently, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bills.

Farmers in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana are up in arms against the Centre's farm laws.

(With inputs from agencies)