New Delhi: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to withdraw the three contentious farm laws, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to repeal the laws which had triggered massive protests by farmers.
The bill to scrap the farm laws would now be introduced in the winter session of the Parliament that commences on November 29.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, while announcing the decision, said bringing the bill in Parliament is a “priority” but evaded questions on the issue of Minimum Support Price.
“It will be our priority to take back these three laws in the upcoming session of parliament,” Thakur said, adding that the “formalities have been completed”.
The Prime Minister had also announced that a committee will be constituted to decide on matters like promotion of zero budgeting farming, like natural farming, changing the crop pattern, keeping in mind the changing requirements of the country and to make MSP more effective and transparent.
The Minister said the priority at present was scrapping the Farm Laws as announced by the Prime Minister.
The laws which would be scrapped are the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance, Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
“On 19th of November, on the day of Gurupurab, Hon’ble Prime Minister had announced that the government will repeal the three farm laws and today when the Cabinet met under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we have completed the formalities to repeal the farm laws,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said in a media briefing after Cabinet meeting.
In the upcoming session it will be our priority to repeal the three farm laws. The government will repeal the three farm laws in the upcoming session. The formalities have been completed in today’s Cabinet meeting,” he further said.
The Cabinet also approved extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another four months (December 2021-March 2022).
Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yodi Adityanath along with other BJP leaders welcomed the decision.
“Modiji, under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, gave free ration to 80 crore people every month so that no one has to sleep hungry,” Shah said in a tweet lauding the decision to extend the program.
On the same lines, Adityanath welcomed the decision and said crores of people would benefit out of it.
The foodgrains distributed under the Phase V of the scheme would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs 53,344.52 crore.
