- Bill passed in just 4 minutes
- No discussion allowed
The crucial bill to repeal the contentious farm laws was passed on the opening day of the Parliament Winter Session on Monday without any discussion. The 25-day session began with the fulfillment of the promise made by the prime minister a few weeks ago. The bill was passed in just four minutes to cancel the three farm laws that made the farmers agitate for more than one years across all seasons of the year. It was tabled at 12.06 pm and passed by 12.10 even while the opposition was demanding discussion. Thus the remaining demands of the farmers were not allowed by the government to be discussed on the floor of the House. Enactment to ensure the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the main demand for which the farmers are continuing their agitation.
Opposition members started raising slogans in support of the farmers as soon as the House assembled. After the repeal bill was passed the House was adjourned to meet again at 2 pm tomorrow. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the bill will be introduced in Rajya Sabha also today itself. In Lok Sabha the repeal bill was introduced by Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar. Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress were present in full measure.
PM Narendra Modi observed that the government is ready to answer any question on its policies and performance but the House should follow procedures and respect the Speaker’s chair. The government is expected to introduce some 30 bills in the 19 sitting the House is going to have. Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, the insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill are some of the bills to be introduced in this session. One of the demands of the farmers is to repeal the Electricity Act also.
On Sunday, there was an all-party meeting which was not attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Aam Admi Party’s Sanjay Singh walked out of the meeting stating that he was denied opportunity to speak. Trinamool Congress which has been expanding its presence at the cost of the Congress has put some conditions for opposition unity saying that it would be part of the unity with a difference.
