The Rajya Sabha on Sunday passed The Farmers’ and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 amidst loud protest not only by the opposition, but even some ruling NDA members, in particular Shiromani Akali Dal.
The Bills were passed by voice votes though the opposition wanted them to be sent to Select Sub-Committee. TMC MP Derek O’Brien tore the rulebook in front of the presiding officer, the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House Harivansh. The Bills were passed even as a large number of farmers have blocked the Ambala-Mohali Highway in protest against what they call the anti-farmer legislation by the Union government.
Though the government enjoys absolute majority in the Lok Sabha it was in Rajya Sabha that the government feared stiff resistance as not only SAD but even Telangana Rashtriya Samiti opposed them. Meanwhile, the opposition has demanded the removal of the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House who was re-elected last week.
