SAD lambasts Punjab CM's 'double standards' on farm bills, cites case of Cong's ally Sena

On Friday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa hit back at Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh for mocking resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Union Cabinet. Alleging that Singh has double standards on issue of farmers, he pointed out that Congress' ally Shiv Sena had voted in favour of 3 farm bills. reafter, Sirsa questioned Punjab CM on wher he would back interest of farmers or support Sena. Congress party is a part of Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. 

Earlier on Thursday, Amarinder Singh termed Badal's resignation as atrics being enacted by SAD. To buttress his point, he highlighted that SAD had t quit National Democratic Alliance. According to him, this decision was t out for any concern for farmers but aimed at saving  SAD's "dwindling political fortunes".

Read: Farm Bills Bring 'freedom' To Farmers, Opposition 'misleading, Lying' To m: PM

Sena breaks ranks with opposition

Unlike or opposition parties such as Congress, Trinamool Congress, NCP, BSP, and CPI(M), Shiv Sena supported all three three farm bills-  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020,  Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. Speaking during debate on aforesaid bills in Lok Sabha, Sena MP Arvind Sawant stressed on importance of Minimum Support Price clause.

He opined that farmers shall t get justice without insertion of MSP clause. He also raised concerns about impact of bills on 75% of farmers having less than 5 acres of land. Moreover, he shared details about Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's 'Vikel Te Pikel' (Sow That Sells) initiative. 

Read: Farm Bills Will Benefit Big Industrialists, Traders: Rajasthan Cong Chief

objective of farm bills

aforesaid bills were introduced by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to replace three ordinances promulgated on June 5. As per Centre,  Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was amended to ensure that farmers get a good price on many commodities. Items such as food grains, oil, dal, pulses, potato have been removed from purview of this Act. 

Meanwhile,  Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 aims at freeing  farmers from constraints of state Agriculture Produce Market Committees whereby y would be able to sell ir produce anywhere. On or hand,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 protects and empowers farmers to eng with processors, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters for farm services. Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Union Cabinet soon after pass of se bills.

Read: PM Modi Present In Parliament late Night As Farm Reform Bills Get Passed In Lok Sabha