Key Points :
- President Ramnath Kovind gave a nod to the three farm bills that have incited farmers’ protests and political upheaval in the country.
- The three bills are now laws after the signature of the President.
- The opposition has expressed disappointment at the President disregarding their demands for reconsideration.
President Ramnath Kovind on Sunday signed the three contentious bills approved by the Centre which were passed amid farmers’ protest and unprecedented drama in the Rajya Sabha. These ordinances have caused political uproar in the country and cost the ruling party its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The Centre has flagged the bills as “historic” reforms in the agri sector, stating that they would help the country’s farmers proceed into the 21st Century, helping them get better prices for produce.
More than a dozen opposition parties had requested President Kovind not to sign the bills, a move that would have led to the bills being sent back to the parliament for consideration after two of the bills were passed amid ruckus in the Rajya Sabha. The opposition has alleged that they were passed “unconstitutionally” in “complete disregard” of parliamentary norms.
The opposition called the passing of the bills ‘death of democracy’ alleging that pushing them through voice vote is in violation of the rules. It further added that the government lacked the numbers to do so which would have reflected in the holding of a physical vote. The opposition also accused Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh, who was presiding over the proceedings, of plotting with the government.
In a different version of the events, Mr Singh and the government have said the opposition demands for physical voting were negated as the members were not in their seats while making the demand.
NDTV in its review of Television footage of the Rajya Sabha proceedings of September 20, however, has suggested otherwise. NDTV reviewed that at least two of the three MPs — KK Ragesh and Trichy Siva — who moved the motion to send the controversial bills to a select committee, were in their seats when they demanded a division of votes.
The SAD, BJP’s oldest ally quit the NDA alliance over the Centre’s failure to ensure addressal of farmers’ concerns. The new laws allow farmers to deal directly with big corporations for the sale of produce. Farmers are concerned there is no provision that ensures the payment of Minimum Support Price fixed by the government and will destroy their livelihoods. Farmers have demanded that the laws be repealed and termed them “anti-farmer”.
Large scale farmers’ protests have been held over the laws in the country, especially in Punjab and Haryana. On Friday, Farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and even the southern state of Karnataka had also joined in the protest,
Akali chief Sukhbir Badal tweeted: “Extremely sad that @rashtrapatibhvn refused to heed farmers & Punjabis’ cries & has signed #FarmBills and J&K bill excluding #Punjabi as official language. Hopes that President will act as nation’s conscience & return Bills to Parliament dashed. Dark day for democracy & farmers.”
The Shiromani Akali Dal announced they plan to hit the roads with a tractor rally on October 1.
