February 25th 2025.
Chandigarh: In the midst of the Punjab Assembly's session, a resolution was unanimously passed on Tuesday against the Centre's draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. This resolution was supported by both the ruling party, Congress, and the main opposition party, BJP. The resolution stated that the draft policy was an attempt to reintroduce the three farm laws that were repealed by the Centre in 2021, following widespread farmer protests.
The resolution was introduced by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who expressed the House's rejection of the draft policy. He also stated that the policy was an attempt to bring back the controversial provisions of the repealed farm laws, which had sparked a long protest by farmers. The House further emphasized that since agriculture is a state subject, according to the Constitution, the Centre should not interfere and instead, allow each state to frame suitable policies according to their concerns and requirements.
In his remarks on the resolution, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his concerns that by implementing this policy, the Centre was trying to replicate the three farm laws through other means. He also highlighted the Centre's tendency to target Punjab on various issues, such as the recent deportation of Indians from the US, where only a few Punjabis were among the deportees, yet the US military planes were made to land in Amritsar, tarnishing Punjab's name.
Renewal Energy Minister Aman Arora also showed his support for the protesting farmers and urged them to open the inter-state highways, which have been closed due to their protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. He emphasized that the closure of these roads, which are the lifelines of Punjab, has had a negative impact on the state's industry and trade.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, while supporting the motion, criticized the BJP for being an "anti-Punjab party". He accused the BJP of intentionally weakening Punjab's economy and political power for the benefit of multinational companies and big corporations. Bajwa also pointed out the BJP's history of undermining the farming sector, citing the Shanta Kumar Commission's recommendation to dismantle the Food Corporation of India during the Atal Bihari Vajpai-led BJP government.
Bajwa also criticized the AAP government for failing to defend the case against the Union government in the Supreme Court to get the Rural Development Fund (RDF) of Rs 8,000 crore for Punjab. He urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take the lead in safeguarding Punjab's interests and offered to join in protests at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand the pending RDF.
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