Bill To Cancel Farm Laws Passed In Indian Parliament, No Discussion

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: A bill to cancel the three contentious farm laws that had the farmers up in arms was passed in record time in both houses as parliament's Winter Session started today. The government plans to get it signed by the President by tonight, sources said.

The Farm Laws Repeal bill was passed in Lok Sabha within four minutes - it was tabled at 12:06 pm and passed by 12:10 pm amid opposition demands for a discussion.

In Rajya Sabha, it was passed after a short discussion. Congress's leader in the house Mallikarjun Kharge said all parties are agreed on the bill and no one is opposed to it.

Opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha objected to the lack of discussion, pointing out that a discussion has taken place on the five or six occasions when a law was scrapped.

"Modi I (2014-19): Repealing and Amending Bill 2017 was one instance. Six MPs participated in discussion. A fig leaf of democracy then. Some shame. Modi II (2019-today): #FarmLaws Repeal Bill 2021 taken up and passed. NO debate allowed. Not even a fig leaf of democracy. SHAMELESS," tweeted Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien.

The opposition claimed the government evaded a discussion to avoid the issue of minimum support price for farmers' produce, which has been a key demand during their year-long agitation.

Minutes after the Winter Session began this morning, slogans disrupted the proceedings in Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government is ready to reply to all questions. "Whatever voices are raised against the government or government policies - the dignity of parliament and the Speaker's Chair should be upheld," he said.

Over the next 18 sittings, the government is expected to introduce more than 30 legislative Bills and one Finance Bill.

The other bills include the crucial Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill.

The Prime Minister yesterday skipped the all-party meeting. Denying it was a break in tradition, Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said, "There was no tradition of Prime Minister attending the all-party meeting. It was started by Modi ji".

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