Farm bills become law amid protests: PM Modi justifies, Akalis say ‘dark day’

Even as many farmers continue to protest against the Union government's 'reform' move, the 3 contentious bills became law after the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, gave his assent and the government notified them. Over a dozen Opposition parties had appealed to the President to not sign off on the bills. The Shiromani Akali Dal, which walked out of its decades-long alliance with the BJP over the issue, called it a 'dark day' for democracy.The Indian National Congress, the main Opposition party, also renewed its attack on the government over the bills. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed that the subject was out of the Parliament's jurisdiction, making the bills unconstitutional, while also being a violation of the country's federal structure. Farmers are afraid that the new laws are a precursor to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) regime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been personally addressing the concerns. He did the same on September 27 in his Mann Ki Baat address.