Odisha’s Ruling BJD Opposes Agricultural Bills in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The contentious farm Bills that have been passed in the Lok Sabha were moved in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar amid opposition from several parties including Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday.

Participating in the debate on the Bills, BJD member Amar Patnaik said the Bills have no provision of security for the small and marginal farmers and share croppers. He asked the government to send the the Bills to the Select Committee for fine-tuning, BJD sources said.

On Saturday, Odisha’s ruling party issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members directing them to remain present in the House during the debate over the Bills. Chief Whip of BJD in Rajya Sabha, Sasmit Patra said a three-line whip had been issued to all the party members asking them to be positively present in the House throughout the day.

The Bills have been facing opposition from strong opposition from various farmers’ bodies as well as partners of the ruling coalition. The former food processing minister from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, resigned from the government last week in protest against injustice meted out to the farmers in the Bills.

Farmers’ and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will become laws after the Upper House also passes those.

In the 245-member Rajya Sabha, the BJP is confident of getting the support of over 130 members including nine members of the AIADMK and six of the YSR Congress if a division of votes is sought on the Bills.