The Narendra Modi government will introduce the controversial farm bills in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday while the Opposition gears up to mount a strong challenge in the Upper House where the NDA does not enjoy majority.Three MPs from the Communist Party of India, two from the Congress, one from the Trinamool Congress and one from Kerala's Loktantrik Janata Dal will be moving statutory resolutions against these bills.The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which enjoys a majority of its own in the Lok Sabha, has issued a three-line whip is its MPs to remain present in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday when the bills are moved for passage by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.On Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed the two bills -- the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Farmers' Produce Trade and commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020.In the Rajya Sabha, the BJP has 86 members in the house of 245, where currently two seats are vacant.However, attendance has been a concern for all parties during the ongoing Monsoon Session during which several elderly MPs have sought leave of absence due to fear of contracting Covid-19.Recently, BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe fell ill after attending a few days of Parliament.THE POLITICAL CALCULATIONSThe BJP suffered a blow on Thursday when its oldest ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) opposed the government when the bills were brought and passed in the Lok Sabha.Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also resigned from the Modi government, terming the bills to be "anti-farmer".While the Akali Dal is still a part of the BJP-led NDA, it has said it will oppose the bills in the Rajya Sabha.Meanwhile, despite Harsimrat Kaur Badal's resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come out strongly in defence of the farm bills.Terming the bills as "historic" and their passage in the Lok Sabha as a "significant moment for the agriculture sector", PM Modi said the bills are "pro-farmer".
He alleged that many forces are at play and they are trying to mislead farmers.The BJP is hopeful that on Sunday, neutral parties that have pulled it out of many sticky situations in the past will save the day for it.
These parties include the Biju Janata Dal (9 MPs), AIADMK (9 MPs), Telangana Rashtra Samiti (7 MPs) and the YSR Congress Party (6 MPs).
It also expects to garner support of other smaller parties and some nominated members.The absolute numbers will however depend on parties and their strength on the floor of the house on Sunday.Earlier in the day, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao announced that his party will oppose these bills "tooth and nail at all cost".
He said these bills are "sugar-coated bills" which will harm the interests of farmers.On the other hand, the BJP has also made overtures towards some unlikely partners.
The Shiv Sena and the National Congress Party are said to be supportive of the reforms that the contentious bills propose, but they seek certain changes.However, unlike the vociferous demand of some opposition parties demanding that the bills be sent to a select committee for Parliamentary scrutiny, they have not dug in their heels.In an interview with India Today TV on Friday, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, who spoke on behalf of the party when the bills were discussed in the Lok Sabha, said, "We can't see be seen as opposing something if good is being attempted.
But kindly incorporate the assurance about minimum support price into the bills so that future of farmers is protected." | Harsimrat Badal's U-turn: I'm not calling farm bills anti-farmer, it's the farmers' charge | Farm bills are sugar-coated pills, will oppose them tooth and nail: Telangana CM KCRALSO WATCH | Farm bill must be amended, says RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch