Opposition urges President Kovind not to give assent to farm bills

Congress veteran and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government should have consulted all parties and farmer leaders before bringing farm bills to Parliament.  

New Delhi: Opposition parties have requested President Ram Nath Kovind not to give his assent to the contentious farm bills. The Opposition also conveyed to him that their passage in Rajya Sabha was "unconstitutional", Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Wednesday.

Azad after meeting the President said that the government should have consulted all parties, farmer leaders before bringing the farm bills.

"The Constitution was undermined ...We have given a representation to President that the farm bills have been passed unconstitutionally and he should return these bills," Azad said. The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, have been passed by both Houses and await presidential assent.

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There was a ruckus during the passage of two of the three farm bills in Rajya Sabha on Sunday following which eight Opposition MPs were suspended.

On September 22, the eight suspended MPs ended their protest inside Parliament complex. This move comes after the Opposition decided to boycott the remaining session of Rajya Sabha. The opposition MPs boycotted the rest of the Monsoon Session over three demands.