Farm Bills
Don't sign farm bills: Eighteen opposition parties urge President in letter
New Delhi/IBNS: Eighteen opposition parties have written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind requesting him to not sign the farm bills that were passed by the government in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
The oppositions parties have called the bills "absolute and total murder of democracy" in the Parliament.
In their letter to Ram Nath Kovind, the oppositions stated: "We, belonging to diverse political parties cutting across India's political and geographical spectrum, bring this representation to you to respectfully draw your urgent attention to the absolute and total murder of democracy, ironically in the most hallowed temple of democracy, parliament."
"We pray that you return the bills and do not append your signature. We pray that you exert all powers, constitutional and moral, to ensure such a black law does not become law..."
Amid the farmers' protests across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said new farm laws will only allow peasants to sell their productions in their own terms.
"The law amendment is not against the Krishi Mandy. Whoever is saying the Krishi Mundy will cease to exist is lying," said the PM.
Eight opposition Rajya Sabha MPs were earlier in the day suspended for their "unruly behaviour" while protesting against the passing of two key farm bills by the government in Parliament's upper house a day ago.
The eight MPs, who have been suspended by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for a week, were Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Sanjay Singh, Congress' Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Borah and CPI-M's KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill seeks to give farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere in the country.
The second one- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020-enables farmers to get into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.
The bills, already cleared in the Lok Sabha, now awaits the assent of the President before they can become law.
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