Farm Bills to Provide Freedom to Farmers: Agriculture Min Defends

Narendra Singh Tomar added that welfare of farmers was not possible without changing laws,

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

(Photo: IANS)

The controversial farm Bills that were passed recently by the Parliament will reduce the distance between traders and farmers, said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

In an interview to news agency ANI, Tomar said that politicians and farmer leaders, who assume that they are experts actually have no expertise – taking a swipe at the protests over the contentious Bills.

He added that welfare of farmers couldn’t be realised without changing laws, and added that these Bills are revolutionary and bring “freedom” for farmers.

“Farmers have to bring produce to mandis where 25-30 licensed traders hold auction. Then farmer is forced to sell at whatever price is fixed. New Bills give freedom to sell outside APMC ‘mandis’ at prices they deem fit, without the taxes levied there,” Tomar said.

Farmers' Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill and Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill were passed earlier last week, amid strong opposition both inside and outside the parliament.

“Has MSP ever been part of law? Congress ruled for 50 years. Why didn’t they incorporate it in law? They’re making issue as they don’t have anything to criticise. MSP has always been Government of India’s administrative decision and remains so.”

Narendra Singh Tomar

The passage of three contentious farm Bills were at the centre of attention this Monsoon Session. The controversy first erupted on 17 September, when two of these Bills were passed in the Lok Sabha, even as Harsimrat Kaur Badal – a member of BJP’s ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and a minister in the Modi cabinet – resigned from the government.

“Rajya Sabha discussed farm Bills for over 4 hours after which I had to reply but Congress created ruckus undemocratically. They committed a cowardly act with Deputy Chairman and obstructed proceedings. In both Houses, no Opposition member spoke of Bills, it was only politics.”

Narendta Singh Tomar

Then, on 20 September, the Farmers’ and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, were passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote, even as the Opposition claimed to have demanded a division of votes.