The Haryana Congress held protests across the state on Monday against Parliament’s nod to the contentious farm bills, which the party described as "black laws".
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda addressed the protesters in Sonipat, while the state Congress chief Kumari Selja led the protest in Jind. Senior leaders Ajay Singh Yadav and Kuldeep Bishnoi joined the protest in Rewari and Hisar districts, respectively.
Congress workers raised slogans against the BJP-led Central Government for bringing the “anti-farmers” bills. The party workers, who staged a protest at the district headquarters, also submitted a memorandum addressed to the President through deputy commissioners.
Hooda said that the Congress has sought a special session of the Haryana Assembly to discuss the “impact and ramifications” of the farm bills. He said, the party will also move a resolution against these bills.
Addressing the protesters in Jind, the party's state unit chief Selja said that the “anti-farmer” move of the Union Government will destroy the peasants.
“BJP is pro-capitalist and does not understand the pain of the poor and the farmers. The ruling party hurriedly pushed through these bills. They even did not care to listen to the suggestion of the opposition members that bills should be referred to the select committee, which could have then taken a view of farmers, farm-labourers, Arhitiyas (commission agents),” Selja said.
Congress MLA Varun Chaudhary, who sat on a protest in Ambala City, termed the bills a move to ruin the lives of farmers, who are already facing hardships.
Through the memorandum, he said, the party sought the President’s intervention in the matter and asked him not to sign the bills.
The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday with a voice vote, amid unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members demanding that the proposed legislations be referred to a House panel for greater scrutiny.
The two bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha and will now go to the president for his assent before they are notified as laws.