BENGAL BECOMES 6TH STATE TO PASS RESOLUTION OVER FARM LAWS, BJP MLAS WALK OUT

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday demanding repeal of the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre and extending its support to the protesting farmers.

Speaking on the resolution on the second day of the twoday special assembly session chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that either the Centre should withdraw the farm-laws or step down from power.

“Interest of farmers cannot be compromised. Either you (Modi) withdraw the laws or step down,” said Mamata while addressing a program at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) headquarters later in the day.

She also said that there could be ideological differences between the political parties, but it was imperative that every party should unanimously support the farmers. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a virtual meeting of all chief ministers.

“When everybody was scared to speak up after the Delhi incident, I said the farmers are not at fault. They are maligning the farmers. The government of India is responsible. It was due to your (Centre) intelligence failure,” the CM added.

So far, five non-bjp-ruled states - Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Delhi have passed resolutions in their respective assemblies against the contentious legislations.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators descended to the well of the house, raising slogans. Later they staged a walkout shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan.

The CPI(M) and the Congress supported the resolution.

KOLKATA:

SO FAR, FIVE NON-BJP-RULED STATES -- PUNJAB, CHHATTISGARH, RAJASTHAN, KERALA AND DELHI -- HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS