TRS: New Bills tune agri landscape for corporates

The TRS charged the Centre with trying to convert India from an agricultural country into a corporate country. The party had opposed and voted against farm Bills in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

TRS Parliamentary Party leader K. Keshava Rao, speaking to reporters after the Rajya Sabha passed the farm Bills despite vehement protests by the Opposition, alleged that the BJP government had bulldozed the legislation with a voice vote despite not having the required strength in the Upper House.

Contending that the Bills will in no way help farmers in getting minimum support price (MSP) for their products, he questioned the BJP government’s stand that the bills will ensure MSP for farmers.

Dr Keshava Rao alleged that the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha was biased in favour of the ruling party. Because of this, TRS MPs have signed the noconfidence motion against the deputy chairman. He found fault with the deputy chairman for rejecting all the amendments proposed to the farm bills by Opposition parties.

The TRS Parliamentary Party leader said, “I have never witnessed in my 60 years of political life Bills being passed in such utter violation of legislative rules.”

He contended that since the no-confidence notice is pending against him, the deputy chairman should not preside over the House.

Keshava Rao accused BJP of trying to corporatise agriculture. Earlier, participating in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on farm bills, he expressed concern that both bills will severely harm the interests of farmers in the country. He demanded that agriculture and related issues should continue to remain within the realm of the state government. The Centre should not try to snatch powers of the state governments, he said. TRS leader in Lok Sabha Nama Nageswara Rao said Sunday will be recorded as a black day in country’s history.