The Delhi Legislative Assembly today passed a resolution calling for the cancellation of three controversial agriculture regulations enacted by the Central government, which have sparked months of dissent among India’s farmers.
The Assembly, which is heavily dominated by the Aam Admi Party (AAP) — the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has 62 members, while the BJP has the remaining 70 — supported the resolution proposed by Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh of the ruling party.
It chastised the Centre for refusing to comply to the farmers’ demand that the regulations be repealed, notwithstanding their “peaceful protests.” It also requested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration speak with the protestors and address their concerns.
The AAP, which is hoping to gain traction in Punjab, which goes to polls early next year, has backed the farmers’ movement vehemently.
“Farmers are on the verge of extinction as a result of these regulations. If these rules are enacted, farmland would be concentrated in the hands of a few large corporations “In February, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated.
Since November of last year, a significant number of farmers, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at several border crossings of the national capital.
Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 are their main demands.
The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, was notified by the Delhi government in December 2020. Farmers will be able to sell their crops anywhere, including outside mandis, according to the AAP.
The Delhi Cabinet earlier this month rejected the city police’s request to form a panel of attorneys to handle crimes relating to the farmers’ protest.
“The Centre is exerting pressure on the (Arvind) Kejriwal administration to replace the state’s attorneys with its own to fight the cases against the accused farmers demonstrating against the agricultural rules,” the Delhi Chief Minister’s Office said at the time.
