Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday tabled a draft resolution in the Punjab assembly rejecting the three farm laws enacted recently by the Centre, terming it a move to "protect the state's farmers and agriculture".
The resolution also rejected the Centre's proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. The resolution sought the annulment of the three farm laws and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020. It also sought the promulgation of "a fresh ordinance making the procurement of food grains on the Minimum Support Price a statutory right of the farmers" and continuing with the "procurement by Government of India through FCI and other such agencies".
Asserting that he was prepared to resign rather than bow to "injustice" meted out to Punjab farmers, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday warned of possible disruption of the state's peace and threat to national security due to the new farm laws enacted by the Centre.
"I am not afraid of resigning. I am not afraid of my government being dismissed. But I will not let farmers suffer or be ruined," he said, while pointing out that he had chosen to quit at the time of Operation Blue Star instead of accepting or endorsing the assault on Sikh ethos.
The resolution was moved by CM Amarinder Singh, who is the Leader of the House, on the second day of a special assembly session in Chandigarh over the new farm laws. The Chief Minister also introduced three bills to counter the centre's farm laws.
The three bills introduced by Amarinder Singh are - 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.
Here's what the three bills introduced by Amarinder Singh say:
Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill 2020: The bill provides that no sale/purchase of wheat or paddy shall be valid unless price paid for it is equal to or greater than MSP. Anyone buying below MSP will be imprisoned for 3 years.
Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020: The Bill protects the consumers from hoarding & black marketing of agriculture produce and secures and protects the livelihood of farmers & farm labourers.
Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020: The Bill provides that no sale/purchase of wheat and paddy under a farming agreement will take place below MSP, and those who violate it will be punished upto 3 years.
