Taking On The Centre | Central Farm Law | Legislative Measures |

States aggrieved (असंतुष्ट; unhappy and angry because of unfair treatment) by central farm laws are adopting both legislative and legal measures

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Punjab’s efforts to enact (नियम/क़ानून बनाना; to put something into action, especially to make something law) State amendments (संशोधन; a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still being discussed) to override (रद्द करना; to refuse to accept or to decide against a previous decision or order) the effects of the Centre’s new agriculture laws epitomise (संक्षेप/ख़ुलासा लिखना; to be or give a typical/perfect example of something) the difficulties in managing the conflict (विरोध/संघर्ष; an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions) between liberalising (उदारीकरण, मुक्त/ स्वतंत्र करना; to allow more freedom in laws, systems, or opinion) the farm sector and protecting the small and marginal farmer from the agonies (कष्ट/व्यथा; extreme physical or mental pain or suffering) of the transition (परिवर्तन; a change from one form or type to another). 

The issue also flags (सूचित/सचेत करना; to warn or tell people about something that is important or is a problem) the consequences (परिणाम; a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient) of not having a wide and informed debate before introducing far­-reaching (दूरगामी/ महत्त्वपूर्ण नतीज पानेवाला; likely to influence many people or things) changes. 

Punjab has been the hub of the opposition to the Centre’s legislative exercise to change the basics of trade and commerce in agriculture. The Akali Dal, the main opposition in the State, eventually withdrew (वापस ले लेना; to take back or move out) its Cabinet minister and later walked out of the NDA government at the Centre. 

Punjab argues (उलझ जाना/ बहस करना; to speak angrily to someone, telling that person that you disagree with them) that the central Acts would cause “grave (गंभीर; adjective- seriously bad) detriment (क्षति/हानि; harm or damage) and prejudice (पूर्वधारणा/पक्षपात; an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling formed without enough thought or knowledge)” to agricultural communities. 

The Bills cite (हवाला देना/उल्लेख करना; to mention something as proof or as a reason why something has happened) an agriculture census (गणना/जनगणना; a count for official purposes, especially the number of people living in a country to obtain information such as age, sex, race, etc.) of 2015­16 to argue that 86.2% of farmers own less than five acres — a majority of them less than two acres — and that with limited or no access to multiple markets, they would be handicapped while negotiating fair price contracts with private players. 

Making efforts to buy farm produce at less than the MSP or harassing farmers in a bid (बोली/दाम; an offer of a particular amount of money for something that is for sale) to persuade (मनाना/राजी करना; to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good reason) them to enter into such contracts have been sought (खोजना/प्रयास करना; to try to find or get something, especially something that is not a physical object) to be made punishable offences, with a jail term of at least three years. The Bills also seek to overturn the Centre’s move to remove the fee on trade and transactions that take place outside markets functioning under APMCs.

A key issue raised by Punjab’s proposed amendments is whether they are legally valid and where they stand in the teeth of (के प्रतिकूल; in spite of or contrary to, notwithstanding) the Centre’s legislation. States can indeed amend central laws enacted under the Concurrent List (समवर्ती सूची; list of something happening or existing at the same time), subject to the condition that provisions repugnant (विरुद्ध/प्रतिकूल; causing a feeling of strong dislike or disgust) to the parliamentary Acts will have to get the President’s assent (स्वीकृति/सहमति; official agreement or approval of an idea, plan, or request), without which they do not come into force. 

The Punjab Bills note that agriculture is under the legislative domain on the States, as the subject falls under the State List in the Seventh Schedule. The Centre has enacted its farm sector Bills by invoking Entry 33(b) in the Concurrent List, which concerns trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of, “foodstuffs (खाद्य-पदार्थ; any substance that is used as food or to make food)”. 

By stretching the entry’s meaning to include agriculture, Parliament has managed to pass laws in the domain of the States. In these circumstances, States aggrieved by the farm sector laws will either have to go the Punjab way to adopt Bills that would require presidential assent, as Rajasthan has decided to do, or challenge the validity of the central laws in the Supreme Court, as Chhattisgarh is said to be considering. 

Whatever the outcome, clear from the groundswell (उभार; a growth of strong feeling among a large group of people) of opposition across the country is that a cavalier (अभिमानपूर्ण; not considering other people's feelings or safety) and centralised approach to issues that affect millions of farmers ill­-serves (दुर्भावना से काम करना; an act intended to help that turns out badly) a diverse country.

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