Farm Laws Repeal Bill Passed By Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha in Record Time

The Farm Laws Repeal Bill has been passed on the first day of Parliament’s Winter Session. The 25-day Winter Session has begun today, and during the session 36 bills are expected to be passed. The bill to cancel the three controversial farm laws that made farmers protest for a year was passed in record time in both houses. “The government plans to get it signed by the President by tonight”, sources said. 

Here are the 10 points to the story    

• Within 4 minutes the Farm Laws Repeal Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. It was tabled at 12:06 pm and passed at 12:10 pm amid opposition demanding a discussion.

• After a short discussion, it was passed in Rajya Sabha also. Mallikarjun Khagre, who is the Congresse’sleader in the house said – “all parties are agreed on the bill and no one is opposed to it." 

• The lack of discussion was objected to by the opposition leaders, who also pointed out the discussion has taken place on the five or six occasions when a law was scrapped.

• Trinamool Congress's Derek O’Brien tweeted – “Modi I (2014-19): Repealiingand Amending Bill 2017 was one instance. Six MPs participated in the discussion. A fig leaf of democracy then. Some shame. Modi II (2019-today): #FarmLaws Repeal Bill 2021 taken up and passed. No debate allowed. Not even a fid leaf of democracy. SHAMELESS.” 

• The opposition claimed that a discussion, on the issue of minimum support price (MSP), which has been a key demand during their year-long agitation, was evaded by the government.

• Slogans disrupted the proceedings in Lok Sabha minutes after the Winter Session began this morning.

• “Whatever voices are raised against the government or government policies – the dignity of parliament and the Speaker’s Chair should be upheld,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added that his government is ready to reply to all questions. 

• In the next 18 sittings, the government is expected to introduce more than 30 Legislative Bills and one Finance Bill.

• The crucial Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill are some of the other bills included.

• Prahlad Joshi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, “There was no tradition of Prime Minister attending the all-party meeting. It was started by Modi Ji,” while denying that it was a break in tradition because yesterday the PM skipped an all-party meeting.