Not against farm sector reforms, but new laws don’t reflect changes: Cong
New Delhi, Dec. 8: Demanding that the Centre scrap the three farm laws by convening a special session of Parliament, the Congress on Tuesday said it was not against farm sector reforms, but the ones brought in through these legislations did not reflect changes.
Senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said agriculture reforms should be discussed afresh in Parliament and new laws enacted after consulting all stakeholders.
His assertions came even as farmers observed a ‘Bharat bandh’ on Tuesday to press for their demand of repealing the three laws. Hooda also said the Minimum Support Price mechanism needs to be incorporated in the law because it is a must to protect the interests of farmers.
He alleged the farm laws brought in by the Centre were passed without any consultation with farmers, and that the government pushed them through as the Coronavirus pandemic raged across the country.
“The government should immediately withdraw these acts. If they want reforms, they should call Parliament, discuss it and then implement it and take all stakeholders into confidence. While passing these acts, nobody was consulted. During Corona period they were passed in Parliament without discussion and stakeholders were not taken into confidence,” he told a press conference.
“We are not against reforms but the current laws must be repealed and a fresh reform process initiated after discussion and consultations with all stakeholders,” he said.
Hooda also asked as to why the government did not agree to the opposition demand of bringing another law to punish those buying farm produce below the MSP. The Congress leader said let the private investment come, but farmers’ interest should be protected at all costs.
Hooda also brushed aside the BJP’s charge that the Congress was fuelling the agitation and said no political party is leading this agitation. “We are supporting farmers’ demand. I am not leading, no party is leading. Now all parties are supporting, because that is their genuine demand. It needs to be maintained.”