Punjab Assembly passes Bills to 'negate' Centre's farm laws, adopts resolution

Chandigarh: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution rejecting the Centre's new farm laws and passed four Bills it said will counter the contentious legislation enacted by Parliament.

The Bills were passed and the resolution adopted unanimously after over five hours of discussion on the second day of a special Assembly session called by the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government.

The Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party and Lok Insaaf MLAs backed the Bills and the resolution. The two BJP MLAs were not present in the House.

The state Bills provide for imprisonment of not less than three years for the sale or purchase of wheat or paddy below the minimum support price (MSP), exemption of farmers from the attachment of land up to 2.5 acres and prevention of hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce.

The Punjab move comes days after the Congress leadership's suggestion to states where the party is in power to pass laws of their own, negating the central legislation.

The state Bills, however, need the assent of the Governor before they become laws. The Governor could withhold assent and refer them to the President.

After the day's sitting of the Assembly, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh headed for the Raj Bhawan to meet Governor V P Singh Badnore.

All MLAs who met the Governor urged him to accord his assent to the Bills at the earliest.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister handed over copies of the Bills and the resolution adopted against the farm laws.

In case the Governor does not give his approval to the Bills passed by the Assembly, he said his government will take legal recourse.

The Chief Minister added that he has sought time from President Ram Nath Kovind between November 2 and 5 and all Punjab legislators will together go to him to seek his intervention in the interest of the state.

Punjab's counter Bills add new clauses and amend provisions in the three central laws, with the state government arguing that this will shield its farmers from their impact.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey has returned with some queries about the state government's proposal seeking to convene a special session of the Assembly.

The Congress government in the state had said earlier that it intends to enact laws to bypass the farm sector reforms of the Centre by holding a special session. Reacting to Tuesday's development, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the Governor cannot stop a government with a full majority from convening Assembly sessions, but his government will resend the file with answers to the queries.

"The state government had sought permission from the Governor to convene a special session of the state Assembly on October 27-28. The Governor has returned the file seeking some more information," a senior official said.