Punjab Assembly Approves Resolution Condemning Centre’s Proposed Agriculture Policy
Punjab Assembly Passes Resolution Against Centre’s Draft Agricultural Marketing Policy
The Punjab Assembly made a significant move on Tuesday by unanimously passing a resolution against the Centre’s draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. The resolution strongly opposes the draft, claiming that it is an attempt to reintroduce the three controversial farm laws that were repealed by the Centre in 2021.
Resolution Against the Draft Policy
During the concluding day of the two-day assembly session, Punjab Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian presented the resolution in the House. The resolution highlighted the concerns of the House regarding the draft policy, emphasizing that it threatens the interests of farmers and undermines the authority of the states in agricultural matters.
Absence of BJP MLAs
Interestingly, two BJP MLAs were notably absent from the House when the resolution was passed, indicating a divide in opinion within the assembly. The resolution directly challenges the draft policy shared by the Centre last year, which aims to create a vibrant marketing ecosystem for farmers to access better prices for their produce.
Protecting APMC Mandis
The resolution urged the government of Punjab to take a firm stand on the issue to safeguard the thriving Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis in the state. It emphasized the importance of transparent and regulated markets like APMCs in protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring fair trade practices.
Concerns Over Private Markets
One of the key concerns raised in the resolution is the promotion of private markets at the expense of APMC markets. The resolution argued that the influx of private markets could potentially destroy the existing transparent and regulated system, leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitation by market owners.
Chief Minister’s Response
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his government’s strong opposition to the draft policy, reaffirming their commitment to protecting the rights of the states in agricultural matters. Mann criticized the Centre for withholding the state’s rural development fund and vowed to resist any attempts to infringe on the autonomy of the states in framing agricultural policies.
Looking Ahead
The resolution recommended that the issue be escalated to the government to prevent further encroachments on the legislative domain of the states. It called for a collaborative effort to address the concerns raised in the resolution and protect the interests of farmers and the agricultural community in Punjab.
In conclusion, the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly serves as a strong statement against the Centre’s draft agricultural marketing policy, signaling a unified stance in defending the rights and interests of farmers in the state. The resolution underscores the importance of state autonomy in shaping agricultural policies and emphasizes the need to prioritize the welfare of farmers in all decision-making processes.