New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Thursday passed two bills related to "reforms" in agriculture marketing after a debate with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stating that the legislations will "end licence raj" and farmers will be free to sell their agricultural produce according to their choice.
BJP's ally Shiromani Akali Dal opposed the two bills. Several opposition parties including the Congress also strongly opposed the bills.
The House passed the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment And Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
The bills seek to replace two ordinances brought by the government earlier this year.
Akali Dal's only Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet today as her party faced heat from farmers over its initial support to ally BJP's farm sector bills. The minister, who attended the cabinet meet that cleared the bills, stepped down shortly before the bills were passed by the Lok Sabha, tweeting that she was "Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister".
Here are the Highlights from the Parliament session:
Sep 17, 2020 21:52 (IST)
Farm bill cleared in Lok Sabha, opposition parties walk out
Sep 17, 2020 15:26 (IST)
This is problematic for the farmers. This should be reconsidered if we really want to save farmers: National Conference MP, Farooq Abdullah on Bills for farmers in Parliament.
Sep 17, 2020 12:50 (IST)
In the present situation, there are sensitive operational issues which I cannot detail. I hope the House will understand the sensitivity of the matter: Defence Minister Rajanth Singh on India-China border issue.
Sep 17, 2020 12:50 (IST)
The situation this year is very different both in terms of scale of troops involved and no. of friction points. We do remain committed to peaceful resolution of the current situation. At the same time, we remain prepared to deal with all contingencies: Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.
Sep 17, 2020 12:36 (IST)
Conduct of our armed forces throughout these incidents shows that while they maintained 'Sayyam' in face of provocative actions, they also equally displayed 'Shaurya' when required to protect territorial integrity of India: Defence Minister in Rajya Sabha on India-China face-off.
Sep 17, 2020 12:29 (IST)
Indian army sacrificed to protect the country. PM Modi went to ladakh and met the jawans and encouraged them. I have also seen their bravery. The border issue is still unresolved, said Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.
Sep 17, 2020 11:50 (IST)
TMC MP Saugata Roy gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over "continued arrest, detention of political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir."
Sep 17, 2020 11:49 (IST)
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over "frequent blasts and casualties at Baghjan oil field, Assam".