Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday adopted a unanimous resolution demanding revoking the three farm laws enacted by the Union government, amid walkouts by the BJP and later by its principal ally, the Opposition AIADMK.
The resolution moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin as promised in the DMK’s election manifesto was adopted by voice vote. Stoutly opposing the three laws, Mr Stalin said the Centre had enacted them unilaterally without consulting the state governments and it went against the principles of federalism and a mockery of democracy.
Stalin recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi soon after becoming the Chief Minister and urged him to take steps to scrap the three laws as it went against the interest of the farmers.
Pointing out the more than nine-month-long agitation by farmers near New Delhi, the Chief Minister said the Independent India had never seen such massive protests against the three farm laws and said they should be scrapped.
He said the three farm laws would seriously affect the farmers and was aimed at benefitting the corporates. He also said the laws were also silent on the question of providing a Minimum Support Prices for the farmers for their produce.
After the BJP staged a walkout saying the resolution was against the farmers, Deputy leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam of AIADMK urged the state government not to adopt the resolution in haste and wanted the issue to be discussed by convening an all party meeting and with the farmers.
He also pointed out the matter was subjudice, before leading the AIADMK members out of the House. However, AIADMK’s other ally, the PMK and the alliance partners of the ruling DMK supported the resolution.
Later, on a request made by floor leaders of some parties, including TVK and MMK, Stalin announced that all cases filed against the farmers who staged protests against the three farm laws during the past one year, will be withdrawn.
