Rajasthan govt to bring bill against Centre's farm laws in November

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced to bring a bill against the Centre's farm laws on the lines of Punjab. Earlier, the Congress leadership had suggested states where the party is in power to pass laws of their own, negating the central legislation.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday decided to call a special session of the assembly to pass a resolution against the three farm laws passed by the Centre the lines of Punjab in November.

During the meeting, the ministers under the chairmanship of CM Ashok Gehlot discussed three farms bills: The Farmers’ 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.

The chief minister announced this on Twitter, hours after the Punjab assembly unanimously passed four bills and adopted a resolution against the Union government laws.

"INC under the leadership of Smt #SoniaGandhi ji& #RahulGandhi ji stands absolutely with our annadatas and will continue to oppose the anti-farmer laws passed by NDA Govt. Today Congress Govt in #Punjab has passed Bills against these laws & #Rajasthan will follow soon", Gehlot tweeted on Tuesday night.

Earlier, the Congress leadership had suggested states where the party is in power to pass laws of their own, negating the central legislation.

Meanwhile, in a first in the country, the legislative Assembly in Punjab led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday unanimously passed three legislations and formally rejected the Centre's 'black' agricultural laws brought by the BJP-led Union government.

The Bills provide for imprisonment of not less than three years and a fine for sale or purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP, exemption of farmers from the attachment of land up to 2.5 acres and prevention of hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce, among other things.

IANS