INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Rajya Sabha on Sunday passed two contentious farm bills -- Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and
the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.The two bills were passed by the Lok
Sabha on Thursday.These farm-sector bills will now be sent to the President of India for assent.The major development comes amid protests by
farmers and uproar by opposition members over the passage of the bills.A ruckus broke out in the Upper House on Sunday after Rajya Sabha
Deputy Chairman Harivansh allowed the extension of the session time beyond its stipulated hour from 9 am to 1 pm
This was when Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was mid-way through his reply to the discussion that had commenced at 09:30 am
in the morning.Speaking for the Opposition, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that this will be a breach of protocol if consensus is not
sought for extension of session time
The Opposition wanted the reply to continue on Monday, followed by voting.As the Deputy Chair continued the proceedings of the house,
breaking all social distancing norms, Opposition MPs reached the well of the house to protest
This included members from Congress, AAP, TMC among others.As the sloganeering commenced, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien rushed
to the Chair and allegedly tore the book of house rules, while screaming "no, you cannot do this."Later, Derek O'Brien alleged: "Rajya Sabha
We have the footage of what happened inside
It was a historic day, in the worst sense of the word
Do not spread propaganda that I tore up a rulebook
We have all the footage, and at the right time, we will send it out."As the commotion caused by the Opposition continued in the chambers and
galleries of the Rajya Sabha, as well as in the chamber of the Lok Sabha, where some Upper House members sit, the House was adjourned for a
few minutes.When the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 1:41, Deputy Chairman Harivansh put the contentious bills to vote.A voice vote was held and
the bills were eventually passed.The Upper House also rejected the demand of several opposition parties to send the two bills to a Rajya
Sabha Select Committee for greater scrutiny
Even loud calls seeking division of votes by Opposition MPs were ignored.Soon after the passage of the agricultural bills, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh tweeted: "The passage of both the bills in Parliament is indeed a landmark day for the Indian Agriculture
I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision to unleash the true potential of India's agriculture
(sic)"Speaking about the unprecedented scenes witnessed inside the Upper House, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao told India Today TV: "Those who've
violated rules and caused the disruption, we expect Chairman to take suo motu action, or else we'll think about recommending action."In
fact, Opposition MPs across party lines stayed back in the chamber of the Rajya Sabha after the end of the session in protest
They sat back at the time normally allocated for sanitisation and disinfection of the House ahead of Lok Sabha convening.The Farmers'
Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 seeks to provide freedom to farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the
country.The second bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, provides for a
national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers,
exporters or large retailers for farm services.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated farmers on passing of farm bills.He
tweeted that the farm bills will 'liberate farmers from adversities'.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the passing of agriculture
bills is a 'welcome step'.PM Modi further said, 'We are here to serve our farmers'.(With inputs from PTI)
