Work on three Agriculture Bills passed by the Rajasthan government to bypass central agricultural laws has not progressed for over 10 months. The governor has put on hold all three agriculture bills. These bills have been stalled citing a lack of jurisdiction to amend central laws. The provisions of these bills cannot be implemented further without the approval of the Governor. A political dispute has started between Congress and BJP in this matter.
The Gehlot government had announced not to implement the provisions of 3 central agricultural laws in the state. It was placed in the assembly on 31 October last year and was passed after debate on 2 November. When these bills were sent to the Governor, they were withheld. Since last year, these bills are in the Raj Bhavan itself.
The State Government has passed the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Rajasthan Amendment Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agreement on Agricultural Services (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed.
In the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Amendment Bill, a fine of Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of 7 years has been made for the harassment of the farmer. Provisions have been made regarding contract farming in the Agreement on Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance Agricultural Services Amendment Bill. Under this, a provision of a 5 lakh fine and 7 years imprisonment has been made for the non-validation of a contractual farming agreement with the farmer for less than MSP MSP and for contracting less than MSP. The Essential Commodities Special Provision and the Rajasthan Amendment Bill have reintroduced the provision of levying stock limits on agricultural commodities, which had been removed in the Central Act.
Congress has expressed displeasure over the Governor's keeping agriculture bills on hold. Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasara has said that the Governor has been sitting for a year withholding three bills passed in the interest of farmers. What could be a better example of abuse of power? Congress will be with the farmers and will continue to fight on this issue. BJP State President Satish Poonia says – The provisions of the central law cannot change the state. All three bills were against the basic spirit of the federal structure. The state government did not have the right to bring the bill, but it was done only to mislead the farmers.
Along with the Governor, the approval of the Center is also necessary on the three agricultural bills of Rajasthan. The governor has stopped them citing legal provisions. Last year, all Congress-ruled states passed bills changing the provisions of agricultural laws. But all have stayed at the governor's level. Because of this, the provisions of these bills are not being implemented in the state at present. In the future also these bills are likely to remain stuck like this.
Like and Follow us on :
