Rajasthan to follow Punjab's example; will table bills negating farm laws: Ashok Gehlot

After Punjab Assembly passed bills to negate Centre's farm laws, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday anunced that his state would follow suit. He asserted that Congress party under leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would continue to oppose three agrarian laws passed by Parliament. As per sources, decision to amend laws has been approved by Rajasthan Cabinet. Previously, Sonia Gandhi had instructed states ruled by party to enact separate laws to bypass farm Acts under Article 254(2) of Constitution. 

Read: Bihar Elections: Mahagathbandhan Manifesto Vows To Scrap New Farm Laws, Protect Dissenters

Punjab Assembly passes bills

Earlier in day, Punjab became first state in India to amend Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Except for BJP MLAs who were absent from House, Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution rejecting Centre's farm laws and proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Demanding ir immediate annulment, resolution called upon Union government to pass an ordinance to protect MSP and guarantee government procurement. 

Read: Punjab CM Urges Prez For Assent To Bill Blocking Centre's Farm Laws; Warns Of Legal Action

What are amended bills? 

 Farmers Produce Trade & Commerce Promotion & Facilitation (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020 ensures that wheat or paddy cant be purchased except for a price equal to or greater than Minimum Support Price. Anyone buying below MSP shall be imprisoned for three years. second bill-  Essential Commodities (Special Provision & Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020 seeks to protect consumers from hoarding and black marketing of agriculture produce.

On or hand,  Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services(Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020 provides that sale or purchase of wheat and paddy under a farming agreement shall take place below MSP. Besides this, ar bill was cleared to ensure that land of farmers up to 2.5 acres cant be attached in any recovery proceedings. Subsequently, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh along with Congress, SAD and AAP MLAs met Goverr VPS Badre, requesting him to give assent to bills. 

Read: More Than Half Farmers Supporting Or Opposing Farm Laws Have Information About m: Survey