BJD MP Pinaki Misra, NDTV spar over farm laws

By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Feb 9, 2021, 7:39 PM IST

Amid the debate in Lok Sabha over motion of thanks on President's Ram Nath Kovind's address in Parliament, a media report emerged about the Biju Janata Dal stating its reservations about the Centre's farm laws and demanding them to be scrapped.

Amid the debate in Lok Sabha over the motion of thanks on President's Ram Nath Kovind's address in Parliament, a media report emerged about the Biju Janata Dal stating its reservations about the Centre's farm laws and demanding them to be scrapped.

Television news channel NDTV quoted Pinaki Misra, BJD MP from Puri, as saying that the government should withdraw the three laws and re-introduce the new agricultural reforms after it is cleared by the Standing Committee or a Select Committee.

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However, Pinaki Misra -- the MP who has been quoted by NDTV -- completely denies having put across any such statement.

Hours after the channel put out the claim, Pinaki took to Twitter to say that NDTV 'wrongly quoted' him as saying that "BJD was asking that farm laws be withdrawn".

NDTV wrongly quoting me as saying BJD asking that farm laws be withdrawn. Our demand is that Swaminathan Committee recommendations be implemented in toto after negotiations with agitating farmers.

— Pinaki Misra, Puri MP (@OfPinaki)

"Our demand is that the Swaminathan Committee recommendations be implemented in toto after negotiations with agitating farmers," he said on Twitter.

He even shared a clip of his speech in Lok Sabha explaining the BJD party position on the Motion of Thanks to the President.

BJD party position on Motion of Thanks to the Hon’ble President on his address to both Houses of Parliament. https://t.co/ZAqMhd3I8M

— Pinaki Misra, Puri MP (@OfPinaki)

The channel hit back, posting a 20-second video in which Pinaki is heard saying that the legislation should be withdrawn.

The report said that this is the first public statement from Naveen Patnaik's party opposing the farm laws.

Turns out, the party had opposed the farm bills in Parliament during the debate on the Bill on the grounds that it lacked provisions for small and marginal farmers

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