Bengal resolution wants farm laws out

Kolkata, Jan. 28: The West Bengal on Thursday became the sixth state to pass a resolution against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre. State parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution urging the Centre that the three laws be repealed. Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Kerala have passed resolutions earlier.

After Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthan, West Bengal became the sixth non-BJP ruled state on Thursday to pass a resolution against the three farm laws in the Assembly as chief minister Mamata Banerjee sought the Centre to repeal the laws or else Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah should resign.

The anti-farm laws resolution was moved by state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee on behalf of the ruling Trinamul Congress in the

House on the second day of a two-day Assembly session.

Speaking in its favour, Ms Banerjee said, “The central government passed the three laws without consulting us. It is trying to enforce them on the country. Its effect will be felt on the farmers of our state also. We might have different political ideologies which however should not deter us from standing by the farmers.”

Slamming the BJP for branding the farmers as “traitors” for opposing the farm laws she told the saffron party, “Either the Centre abolishes the three laws or else you must step down from power.”

Later at another event, Ms Banerjee said, “If the farm laws are not repealed, the PM and the union home minister have to resign.”

The CM also demanded the waiver of the farm loans. She lashed out at the saffron party for spreading fake information about the farmers’ stir at Red Fort on January 26. Protesting against her, the BJP MLAs however staged walk-out of the House shouting Jai Shree Ram slogan.

The resolution was later passed with the support of 101 votes from the Trinamul Congress against 27 of the Opposition.