By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: BJP National VP-Spokesperson and 4th times former MP, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda on Friday came down heavily for opposing the reforms initiative taken up by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central Government.
The Senior BJP Leader Panda’s hard hitting reaction came few hours after the President Ramnath Kovind, as advised by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution, on Friday.
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, The President has directed that Narendra Singh Tomar, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to his existing portfolios.
In a series of tweets, BJP leader Panda also questioned as to how other parties are taking the bait.“Congress is BLATANTLY LYING that the current reform is removing the MSP (minimum support price) mechanism. What this reform does is INCREASE the options for farmers to sell produce to whoever & wherever they want (thus raising their income) but leaves in place the MSP safety net,” Baijayant ‘Jay’Panda tweeted@PandaJay.
“The agri reforms now being implemented by govt have long been advocated by every sensible economist & farmers leader (like the late Sharad Joshi). It will dramatically IMPROVE farmers earnings, by undoing the monopolistic nexus restricting where & to whom they could sell produce,” the BJP leader tweeted.
“Now do you see Congress is anti national? By cynically opposing desperately needed, long-pending agri sector reform (which it had itself promised in its election manifesto!), & lying to farmers on its impact, it risks damage to India. Sad that other parties are taking the bait,” he added.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal had tendered her resignation from the Cabinet on Thursday in protest of legislation seeking to liberalise agricultural markets. “I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister,” she had tweeted.
The House passed the two Bills — ‘The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020’ and the ‘Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020’.More than five hours of debate ensued before the Bills were passed around 9.45 pm on Thursday.
Justifying the Bills, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh termed them as ‘revolutionary’. “Farmer will be free to sell produce anywhere and to anyone, freeing him from selling the produce only at the designated ‘mandi’. Sales done outside the mandi will attract no tax of Centre or state governments.”
The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), will remain in states, Tomar said, adding that Bills should not be criticised for political reasons. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system will continue and no contract will be allowed between private trader and farmer that can affect land holding of farmer. Even in case of dispute, the land of the farmer cannot be sold to recover any damages.
