Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Saturday moved a goal in the state administrative Assembly restricting the Center’s three farming laws. As he did, AIADMK and BJP MLAs arranged a walkout.
Talking in the Assembly, Stalin said the laws were against ranchers’ privileges, and that the Center had passed them singularly without talking with the states. He said the three laws would neither assistance rural development nor ranchers in the country. He encouraged the Center to nullify the laws to keep farming from getting under the control of corporate powers.
The Chief Minister said that without precedent for the historical backdrop of Tamil Nadu, it was his administration that introduced a different rural financial plan to work on the area and the jobs of ranchers
“We have regulated markets in our country for farmers to sell their products. With an intention to nullify them, the Union Government has brought this law. Without holding any consolation with states, the Union Government has brought this law, which is against the federal system, and hence, we are in a position to oppose this law. They are breaching states’ rights, destroying honour of democratic institutions,” Stalin said.
“Paying respect to the peaceful protest of the farmers, the Tamil Nadu government has moved this resolution,” Stalin said, adding that all cases filed against farmers for protesting against the farm laws over the last one year would be withdrawn.
The only thing farmers were demanding was to provide a fair price for their produce, Stalin said.
He also highlighted there was no provision in the law to prevent genetically modified seeds.
As soon as Stalin moved the resolution, AIADMK and BJP MLAs staged a walkout in the Assembly.
Deputy Leader of AIADMK legislature O Panneerselvam said while the CM has listed the disadvantages of the farm laws, its advantages also need to be highlighted. He sought to know whether the state government has written to the Centre over the matter, and if it has received a reply.
Earlier, AIADMK’s K P Anbalagan said the resolution has been tabled in a “hasty manner”, and wanted an evaluation of its pros and cons by holding discussions with relevant stakeholders.
Ever since the three farm laws were enacted by the Centre, the DMK has demanded they be withdrawn as they are “against the interests of farmers”.
“The government has made a clear decision to pass a resolution seeking the withdrawal of these three farm laws reflecting the feelings of farmers across the country,” Stalin said in June, adding there is no change on that decision.
Stalin said Saturday’s resolution was in line with his party’s electoral promise, made ahead of the April 6 Assembly polls.