Punjab Vidhan Sabha extends its 'Special Session' after clearing Agriculture Bills

Agriculture Bills Passed: Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s special session has been extended after clearing the Agriculture Bills. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh moved resolutions rejecting the Centre’s farm laws 2020 passed by the Parliament. The three Bills are The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020. Also Read | Punjab govt's farm-related bills provide minimum of 3 years' jail for sale/purchase below MSP Also Read | Ready to quit rather than bow to injustice to farmers, says Punjab CM Highlights of Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Special Provisions

• There will be imprisonment of three years in case anybody compels a farmer to sell his agricultural produce below MSP.
• The Act seeks to protect the interest of farmers, farm labourers, those engaged in ancillary and incidental activities related to the production, sale, and marketing of agricultural produce.
• The Act ensures that no sale or purchase of wheat or paddy shall be valid unless the price paid for it is equal to or greater than the MSP as well as restores the primacy of the APMC Act over the Central Legislations.

Highlights of The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020

• The bill seeks to amend the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 of Govt of India.
• Imprisonment of three years in case anybody compels a farmer to sell his agricultural produce below MSP.
• The bill seeks to ensure that no sale or purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement shall be allowed below MSP.
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Highlights of The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.

• The bill seeks to amend the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 of Govt of India.
• The Bill aims to protect the consumers from hoarding and black marketing of agricultural produce to secure and protect the interests and livelihood of farmers and farm labourers.

Apart from this, Punjab's Vidhan Sabha Special Session has been extended after clearing resolutions against Centre's Farm Laws 2020 and it will now resume at 10 am on October 21. Also, Captain Amarinder Singh, during the session, said that the party won't succumb to the pressure by the Centre. -PTC News