In a unanimous decision, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, sans two BJP MLAs who were absent during discussion and voting, on Tuesday passed a resolution rejecting the draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, terming it “anti-farmer” and a direct assault on the country’s federal structure.
The resolution, moved by Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, was supported by legislators across party lines, who argued that the policy mirrored the contentious farm laws repealed in 2021 after a year-long farmers’ agitation that claimed over 700 lives. The Assembly also criticized the policy for its silence on the legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and its potential to dismantle the state’s robust Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system.
The second day of the two-day special session witnessed heated debates during discussion on the resolution, with MLAs from both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition — Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — condemning the draft policy as an attempt by the Central Government to undermine state autonomy. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led the charge, accusing the Centre of harbouring a “hatred” for Punjab and its farmers. He asserted that the policy was a covert attempt to reintroduce the repealed farm laws, which had sparked massive protests across the country.
“The draft policy is a blatant attack on the federal structure of the Constitution. Agriculture and marketing are state subjects, and the Centre has no business interfering in these matters,” said Mann, emphasizing that Punjab, as the food bowl of India, would not tolerate any policy that jeopardizes the interests of its farmers.
Similar to Farm Laws
The resolution highlighted the similarities between the draft policy and the three farm laws repealed in 2021. MLAs argued that the policy aimed to promote private markets at the expense of the state-regulated APMC system, which has been the backbone of Punjab’s agrarian economy. They warned that the policy would lead to the monopolization of agricultural trade by corporate entities, leaving farmers at the mercy of market forces.
“The draft policy is silent on MSP, which is the lifeline of Punjab’s farmers. It is clear that the Centre's ultimate goal is to phase out MSP-based procurement, just as they tried to do with the farm laws,” said Khuddian while presenting the resolution. He added that the policy would render APMC markets irrelevant, leading to the collapse of the existing mandi system.
The resolution highlighted the constitutional conflict arising from the Centre's intervention in a state subject. Agriculture and agricultural marketing are listed under the State List of the Constitution, giving states exclusive jurisdiction over these matters. Legislators argued that the draft policy violates the spirit of federalism by encroaching on the state's domain.
“The founding fathers of the Constitution wisely placed agriculture in the State List to ensure that policies are tailored to local conditions. The Centre's attempt to impose a one-size-fits-all policy is unconstitutional,” Mann said.
The resolution concluded with a call to the Central Government to withdraw the draft policy and engage in meaningful consultations with the states and farmers. The Punjab Government vowed to continue its fight against any policy that undermines the interests of farmers and the state's agrarian economy. “The state government will not rest until the Centre abandons this anti-farmer policy. We will use all legal and constitutional means to protect Punjab's rights…We will not only forward this resolution but also follow it,” Mann declared.
Farmers' Concerns Take Center Stage
The Assembly echoed the concerns of farmers, who fear that the policy would deprive them of fair prices for their produce. The resolution noted that farmers across the State are opposed to the policy, as they believed it would negatively impact state-regulated markets and reduce their bargaining power. “Farmers feel that this policy will deny them the right price for their crops and destroy the APMC system,” read the resolution. Chief Minister Mann also pointed out that the draft policy fails to address the issue of MSP, which was one of the key demands of the farmers during the 2020-21 protests. “The absence of any reference to MSP in the draft policy has reignited the same fears among farmers. This is unacceptable,” he said.
A Broader Attack on Punjab?
Mann went a step further, accusing the Central Government of adopting a “step-motherly” attitude towards Punjab. He claimed that the Centre’s hostility stems from the state’s pivotal role in the farmers’ agitation, which forced the government to repeal the farm laws. “The Centre hates Punjab because our farmers led the movement that forced them to backtrack on the farm laws. This policy is another attempt to target Punjab and its farmers,” Mann said. He also criticized the Centre for withholding Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) and accused it of deliberately trying to tarnish the state's image. “From denying us funds to sending illegal immigrants to Amritsar, the Centre is leaving no stone unturned to defame Punjab,” Mann said.
Opposition Backs the Resolution
The resolution found support from opposition leaders, including the Congress MLA and the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government. Bajwa recalled warning Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the adverse impact of the farm laws, which he said were “death warrants” for farmers. “The BJP is anti-Punjab and is conspiring to weaken the state politically and economically,” Bajwa said. He also accused the Centre of withholding Rs 8,000 crore owed to Punjab and urged the state government to take legal action to secure the funds. “If the State Government is serious about fighting for Punjab's rights, it should hire top lawyers and stage a protest outside Modi's residence…we are ready to go with them,” Bajwa said.
Strong Mandi System
All the MLAs emphasized the strength and significance of Punjab’s robust mandi system, highlighting how market committees and Rural Development Funds play a crucial role in maintaining rural infrastructure and supporting farmers and farm labourers during times of need. “Punjab’s mandi system is the largest in Asia and serves as the state’s primary source of income. However, the Centre aims to divert all state revenues into its own coffers, allowing it to distribute funds arbitrarily, especially to BJP-ruled states,” said AAP MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand.
Cabinet Minister Sond labeled the draft policy as a “direct attack on India’s federal structure”, questioning why the BJP-led Centre is targeting states when agriculture is unequivocally a state subject under the Constitution. “Do they want us to beg for what is rightfully ours? Take the example of RDF — we are being denied what is due to us,” he said, accusing the Centre of acting as a “government for corporates”.
Echoing similar sentiments, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora criticized the Centre for pursuing a “use and destroy” policy against Punjab’s farmers. “This draft policy is nothing but an attempt to reintroduce the three controversial farm laws through the backdoor,” he added, underscoring the widespread apprehension that the Centre is reviving its earlier agenda under a different guise.
Call for Farm Innovation
Rejecting the draft proposal, several MLAs also emphasized the need for forward-thinking strategies, expert consultations, and comprehensive discussions to address the challenges faced by farmers. Congress MLA from Abohar Sandeep Jakhar questioned the Punjab Government’s commitment to providing MSP on all crops. “What is stopping the AAP government from ensuring MSP for all crops when other states are doing it? What about the moong dal cultivation initiative you launched?” he asked the treasury benches. Jakhar urged the government to develop a “common minimum program” and a detailed roadmap to address farmers’ issues holistically.
Former Minister and Congress MLA Pargat Singh echoed the call for expert input and broader discussions. “We must explore alternatives to safeguard agriculture, which is our lifeline, while also guiding farmers toward sustainable practices,” he said. He stressed the importance of balancing defense of existing systems with innovative solutions for the future.
Independent MLA from Sultanpur Lodhi Rana Inder Pratap Singh presented a comprehensive list of suggestions to diversify Punjab’s agriculture beyond the paddy-wheat cycle. He advocated for setting up agro-based industries, adopting advanced technologies like air freezing and cold chains, and connecting farmers directly to markets. “We have institutions like Markfed and Milkfed…Let’s move beyond selling paneer and saag and build infrastructure to market value-added products,” he said.
Rana Inder also proposed crop insurance schemes, market intelligence systems to predict consumers’ future demands, and strengthening financial support systems.
Strongly opposing the draft policy’s focus on boosting millet production, he argued that it is unsuitable for Punjab’s agricultural landscape. “We cannot let Punjab bear the cost of such impractical measures,” he said. Instead, he called for robust processing infrastructure, new potato varieties, and developing the Doaba region as a seed belt to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.
