'If I want to burn my tractor, what problem do you have?:' Punjab CM hits back at BJP

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh claimed that agriculture was subject of state as he joined former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat on Monday to protest against recently tified Farm Bills. 

A tractor was set on fire by Youth Congress cre near India Gate in Delhi on Monday morning during protests against controversial farm laws, which have triggered demonstrations in several parts of country. Responding to a question on incident, Punjab CM asked what problem existed if he wanted to burn his own tractor? 

Nearly 20 people gared at central Delhi location around 8 am and set an old tractor on fire. According to police, protesters h raised pro-Congress slogans. police are trying to identify those involved. Punjab Youth Congress live-streamed protest at India Gate on its official Facebook p.

Furr, CM Amarinder Singh said that state will approach Supreme Court regarding matter while also pinning hopes on Rahul Gandhi to join m in protest. 

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BJP slams Congress stunt 

Labeling Congress party as 'hypocrites', Union Minister Prakash Javdekar slammed rival party for opposing Farm Bills while it was mentioned in ir manifesto and for trying to garner media attention by burning tractor. Prakash Javdekar called Congress party 'an embarrassment to country' and said that party stood exposed & ir political motives apparent after 'drama' on Monday. BJP condemned Congress' act of burning tractor and said that rival party's hypocrisy was reason why it lost ground. 

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Farmers' agitation continues 

Protests against three agriculture laws continued on Sunday, with farmers in Punjab sitting on Amritsar-Delhi railway track. Farmers, under banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, have been staging a dharna on rail track in Punjab since last week. In Karnataka, farmers groups have called for a state-wide shutdown against three farm-related bills cleared in parliament and two passed by state assembly on Saturday. bandh was supported by Congress, which is in opposition in Karnataka.

opposition has criticized three bills terming in ‘anti-farmer’ and alleged that y were passed in violation of rules. government has asserted that se bills will allow farmers to sell ir produce anywhere y want at a better price. Farmers have expressed apprehension that Centre's farm reforms would dismantle minimum support price system, leaving m at "mercy" of big companies.

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What are three farm bills?

As country opened up after lockdown, Centre promulgated three ordinances affecting agriculture. Agriculture foodstuff including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions, and potato were deregulated while stock limits were imposed only under extreme conditions, under amendment to Essential Commodities act. Farmers' produce tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act was to enable better price realisation for farmers by attracting investments - making agriculture sector competitive.  Under Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm services ordinance, 2020, it provided a framework for protection and empowerment of farmers with reference to sale and purchase of farm products overriding all state APMC laws. se ordinances are to be replaced by farm bills that have w been tified.

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