The Bharatiya Janata Party government on Sunday rammed through two agriculture-related laws in the Rajya Sabha amidst accusations that the ...
The Bharatiya Janata Party government on Sunday rammed through two agriculture-related laws in the Rajya Sabha amidst accusations that the deputy chairman had refused requests from Opposition members to count the votes of individual members.
Even though the BJP has claimed that the laws are a historic reform. there have been protests against the Bills in several states, especially Punjab and Haryana. Even the BJP’s ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, opposed the Bills. Union Cabinet Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the party resigned from the government on Thursday.
On Sunday, Opposition MPs went into the well of the Rajya Sabha and shouted slogans against the deputy chairman’s decision to pass the Bills by voice vote. This resulted in eight MPs being suspended on Monday. Twelve Opposition parties also moved a no-confidence motion against the deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, which was rejected by Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Monday.
Even as the MPs continue to protest the actions in Parliament, the leaders of several states – whose power to govern the functioning of agriculture will be severely eroded by the new laws – are considering their options to take on the Centre.
Federal challenge
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told reporters in Chandigarh on Sunday that the state would file a case in...
