Lok Sabha passes bill to repeal three farm laws

Speaker says he is ready for a debate

Opposition seeks a debate on the bill and rushes to the well of the House raising slogans and banners

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar speaks at the Lok Sabha on Monday: PTI

TT Bureau, PTI   |   New Delhi   |  29.11.21: A bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting for over a year, was passed by the Lok Sabha within minutes of introduction on Monday.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar introduced The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 shortly after noon on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament.

The Opposition sought a debate on the bill and came to the well of the House raising slogans and banners.

Speaker Om Birla said that he was ready for the debate provided there is order in the House.

As the opposition continued the protests, the Speaker announced the passage of the bill after voice vote.

He then adjourned the House till 2 pm.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an address to the nation, had announced that the laws will be repealed. However, farmer groups vowed to continue with their stir till all their demands are met with. They even decided to stick to their Parliament march before cancelling it a couple of days ago. Several Opposition parties took pot shots at the Modi government terming the decision to repal as stemming out of fear of losing in the state Assembly polls due next year.

Leaders like Rahul gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and others smelt a rat behind the Centre's decision. "It is absolutely clear that their heart is not clean, and after the elections, the bills will be brought again. Occupying the constitutional posts, Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj have said that the BJP government may bring the bill for farm laws," the Samajwadi Party tweeted.

"Now, sensing defeat in polls, you have suddenly started to realise the reality of this country - this country has been built by farmers, it is a country of farmers, they are the real protectors of the country and no government can run the country by trampling upon the interests of the farmers," Vadra had earlier said. 

Various farmer groups have been protesting against the laws for more than a year and many farmers have also lost their lives during the protests. 

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/farm-laws-repeal-bill-passed-in-lok-sabha/cid/1841092)