New farm laws against federal principles, must go, says Stalin
CM says 3 laws not good for farmers; AIADMK, BJP walk out, PMK stays in House
Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday adopted a resolution urging the Union government to scrap the three farm legislations that are “against farmers’ welfare and development.”
The resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin was passed in the House by voice vote. It didn’t have the support of the Opposition AIADMK and BJP, who staged a walkout. The DMK-led State government became the seventh in the country to pass a resolution against the farm laws enacted in 2020.
Moving a resolution immediately after the House was convened for the day, Stalin said the three laws enacted with the ‘intention of developing agriculture and protecting farmers’ welfare’ serve no purpose. “Farmers say it destroys agriculture. They have been protesting for 385 years. Free India has not seen such an uprising,” Stalin said. The CM wondered if this was the way to respect the voice of people in a democracy.
Stating that the government was duty-bound to oppose the farm laws, he said these were passed without consulting states and it would destabilise the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. The laws would snatch the rights of states and the farmers stand to gain nothing, he said.
The resolution was being passed to uphold federal principles, protects the State’s rights and prevent agriculture from being controlled by private players, the CM said.
Deputy Leader of Opposition, O Panneerselvam, who led the party MLAs out of the House in protest, asked the government to wait for the order of the Supreme Court, which has stayed the laws. He said the State could lead a delegation to get clarification from the union government. The PMK, which did not oppose the resolution, sought suitable amendments to the farm laws. DMK’s ally Congress wholeheartedly welcomed the resolution.
The ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK on Saturday sparred in the State Assembly over adopting a resolution against the union government’s farm legislations.
Deputy Leader of Opposition O Panneerselvam, speaking on the motion to adopt the resolution, set the tone for it by charging the ruling DMK with moving the resolution in haste. Citing the Supreme Court stay on the three farm legislations, Panneerselvam asked the state government to lead a delegation to the national capital to parley with the Union government.
Chief minister MK Stalin, who sought to intervene, told the House, “When I met the PM in New Delhi after becoming Chief Minister, I told him about this. But we have not received any reply for it so far.”
“We are only fulfilling the promise we made to the people during the polls. Hence, I earnestly and rightfully appeal to you to facilitate the unanimous passage of the resolution. We chose to use the word unanimous in the resolution hoping that you would support it.”
How many letters did you write: Duraimurugan asks OPS
As Panneerselvam reiterated on discussing with the union government, Leader of the House Duraimurugan asked, “How many letters did you write (to the Union government on the issue) when you were in power? The farm laws were passed by the Union govt without consulting you. Our chief minister has moved the resolution for that too.”
Joining the offensive, Stalin said, “Legislative Assemblies of several states have moved a resolution against the three farm laws. You claim to be with the farmers always. But, why are you hesitant? We are doing something you could not do. Hence, help pass the resolution unanimously.”
A dissatisfied OPS subsequently marshalled his MLAs out of the House after stating in the House that they were walking out as the government was only keen on passing the resolution, without paying heed to the AIADMK’s views.
Unperturbed, Duraimurugan sought unanimous passage of the resolution and said, “As per Assembly rules, a resolution could be passed unanimously if all members present in the House support it. That way, you ask the members present in the House if they support it unanimously. If they say yes. It should be considered as passed unanimously.”
Speaker M Appavu obliged and did the same, passing the resolution ‘unanimously’ by voice vote.
‘Annan’ Duraimurugan knows my situation: Panneerselvam
To the surprise of the AIADMK members, who returned shortly thereafter, Panneerselvam asked the Speaker to expunge certain remarks of his on the issue without the Opposition praying for it.
“I have huge respect for annan (brother) Duraimurugan. He knows my situation very well,” said a virtually satisfied Panneerselvam, after quoting a Tamil adage suggesting that he was caught between devil and deep sea.