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Photos: Rajya Sabha clears agriculture reform bills amid protests

The Rajya Sabha on September 20 passed the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 despite protests by MPs from opposition parties. The bills have been contentious among the country’s farmers since May when they were proposed by the central government as ordinances. While the central government claims these bills will help farmers get better prices for produce, farmers’ unions and allied groups raise fears that the bills benefit big corporates and will end the MSP based procurement of farm produce by the government.

Updated on: Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM IST

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Members of Parliament storm the well during a Rajya Sabha session over agriculture related bills at the Parliament in New Delhi on September 20. The Rajya Sabha on September 20 passed two contentious agriculture reform bills by voice vote amid protests by the opposition and calls for further scrutiny of the bills. (PTI)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Members of Parliament storm the well during a Rajya Sabha session over agriculture related bills at the Parliament in New Delhi on September 20. The Rajya Sabha on September 20 passed two contentious agriculture reform bills by voice vote amid protests by the opposition and calls for further scrutiny of the bills. (PTI)

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Members of various farmer organizations protest against the central government over farm reforms in Patiala on September 17. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were introduced in May and have been a matter of protest among farmers across the country. (Bharat Bhushan / HT)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Members of various farmer organizations protest against the central government over farm reforms in Patiala on September 17. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were introduced in May and have been a matter of protest among farmers across the country. (Bharat Bhushan / HT)

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Farmers’ organizations protest against the proposed reforms, blockading Chandigarh-Bhatinda road in Patiala on September 19. Both bills were passed in Lok Sabha on September 18 during the monsoon session. Union minister for Food Processing Industries and senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from her post the same day as a sign of protest against the bills. (Bharat Bhushan / HT Photo)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Farmers’ organizations protest against the proposed reforms, blockading Chandigarh-Bhatinda road in Patiala on September 19. Both bills were passed in Lok Sabha on September 18 during the monsoon session. Union minister for Food Processing Industries and senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from her post the same day as a sign of protest against the bills. (Bharat Bhushan / HT Photo)

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Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien attempts to tear the rule book in Rajya Sabha in protest over the bills at Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on September 20. Opposition members, including those from the TMC, Congress and Left, created ruckus after deputy chairperson Harivansh did not consider their demand for a division of votes on a resolution to send the two bills to a select committee for further scrutiny, HT reported. (PTI)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien attempts to tear the rule book in Rajya Sabha in protest over the bills at Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on September 20. Opposition members, including those from the TMC, Congress and Left, created ruckus after deputy chairperson Harivansh did not consider their demand for a division of votes on a resolution to send the two bills to a select committee for further scrutiny, HT reported. (PTI)

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Farmers demonstrate against the passing of the bills in Lok Sabha, in Amritsar on September 18. The passage of the bills is being considered a landmark step by the government in unlocking the country’s regulated agriculture markets. Opposing farmers meanwhile believe that the bills will render the current Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement system ineffective and force them to make distress sales to private companies. (Narinder Nanu / AFP)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Farmers demonstrate against the passing of the bills in Lok Sabha, in Amritsar on September 18. The passage of the bills is being considered a landmark step by the government in unlocking the country’s regulated agriculture markets. Opposing farmers meanwhile believe that the bills will render the current Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement system ineffective and force them to make distress sales to private companies. (Narinder Nanu / AFP)

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Rajya Sabha MPs from opposition parties protest outside the Parliament on September 20 after the Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers’ and Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill, 2020. (ANI)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Rajya Sabha MPs from opposition parties protest outside the Parliament on September 20 after the Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers’ and Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill, 2020. (ANI)

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Members of various farmers’ organizations arrive by buses to protest over agriculture related ordinances in Patiala on September 19. Various farmer organizations continue to protest even after the passage of the bills in both the houses and despite government’s assurance that the bills will not affect the minimum selling price and the system of public procurement will not be affected by these bills. (Bharat Bhushan / HT Photo)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

Members of various farmers’ organizations arrive by buses to protest over agriculture related ordinances in Patiala on September 19. Various farmer organizations continue to protest even after the passage of the bills in both the houses and despite government’s assurance that the bills will not affect the minimum selling price and the system of public procurement will not be affected by these bills. (Bharat Bhushan / HT Photo)

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A farmer working in a field on the outskirts of Bangalore on September 18. Welcoming the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on September 20, “For decades, the Indian farmer was bound by various constraints and bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate the farmers from such adversities. These bills will add impetus to the efforts to double income of farmers and ensure greater prosperity for them.” (Manjunath Kiran / AFP)

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:30 AM

A farmer working in a field on the outskirts of Bangalore on September 18. Welcoming the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on September 20, “For decades, the Indian farmer was bound by various constraints and bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate the farmers from such adversities. These bills will add impetus to the efforts to double income of farmers and ensure greater prosperity for them.” (Manjunath Kiran / AFP)

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