Fadnavis slams Congress over 'double standards' on farm bills, recalls manifesto promise

dressing media in Navi Mumbai on Friday, former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fnavis slammed Congress for its assertion that MVA government will t implement farm bills in state. Maintaining that legislation is beneficial for farmers, he alleged that Congress party h double standards on issue. To buttress his point, Leer of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly highlighted that Congress h promised similar reforms as enacted in  Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 

In its manifesto, Congress h promised to repeal APMC Act making  tre in agriculture produce free from all restrictions and to replace Essential Commodities Act with an enabling law that be can invoked only in case of emergencies. Fnavis contended that farmers would give a befitting reply to Congress party. reafter, he opined that Maharashtra government h option but to implement farm legislation in state. At present, aforesaid bills are pending with President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent. 

Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fnavis remarked, "I feel that farm bills are unnecessarily being politicised. t implementing bills is against farmer’s interest. y have such double standards- Congress party in its 2019 Lok Sabha manifesto h promised to do all se things after coming to power. In manifesto, it should have also ded that we will t let or party enact se reforms if we don’t come to power. This is a hypocritical stand. I feel that farmers mselves will answer m. MVA will have to implement bills."

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Opposition to farm bills

Earlier in day, Congress Maharashtra chief and state Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat stressed that entire MVA was opposed to farm bills and t just his party. Condemning lack of discussion in Parliament over legislation, he accused Centre of trying to harm Agriculture Market Produce Committees. According to him, farmers have been cheated by benefiting trers and doing away with Minimum Support Price system. 

After pass of bills in both Houses of Parliament, 15 political parties- Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, SP, IUML, RJD, CPI, CPI(M), AAP, DMK, TMC, LJD, Kerala Congress(M), JD(S) and TRS  wrote a joint letter to President urging him to t append his signature. While farm bills were cleared via voice vote, parties claimed that a division of votes was t allowed by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh. Maintaining that re is place for arrogance, y alleged that voice of MPs speaking for farmers was stifled. 

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