Kolkata: West Bengal today became the sixth state to pass a resolution against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre, even as the opposition BJP staged a walkout from the assembly amid “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee moved the resolution under rule 169 urging the centre that the three laws- the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act,2020; the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 – be repealed.
West Bengal assembly is the sixth to pass such a resolution after Punjab, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Delhi and Kerala.
While the first three are ruled by the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power in Delhi and the Left Front is ruling Kerala.
While speaking on the resolution, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the centre should either take back the new laws or step down.
The CPI(M) and the Congress supported the resolution, but demanded that the state government withdraw similar laws it had passed a few years back.
Rule 169 of the assembly empowers the state government to pilot a resolution in the house.
BJP MLAs led by its legislature party leader Manoj Tigga opposed the resolution and staged a walkout shouting “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
Speaking on the resolution amid vociferous protests by the BJP lawmakers, Mamata Banerjee demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi convene an all-party meeting to discuss the process of withdrawal of the new farm laws.
The assembly witnessed unruly scenes after the resolution was moved, with BJP MLAs rushing to the well of the house, claiming the Trinamool government has launched a “misinformation” campaign against the farm legislations.
“We oppose the anti-farmer laws.We demand there immediate withdrawal. Either the centre should withdraw the laws or step down,” the Chief Minister said.
Ms Banerjee said the union government, which has in the past, waived corporate loans, should also extend the same benefit to farmers.
She also claimed the Delhi police “mishandled” the tractor rally by farmers which resulted in the situation going out of hand on the Republic Day.
