New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) The Congress on Tuesday termed as 'historic,' the passage in the Punjab legislative Assembly of four Bills to negate the Centre's three contentious farm laws.


Addressing a press conference here, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, 'Today, four historic Acts have been passed by Punjab. It is a positively historic day, because there is a new inspiring, affirmation, assertion and assurance to the farmer community, at least so far as these four laws passed today will have effect in Punjab.

'We are proud that the Congress-governed Punjab; the single-most important agricultural state in this country, is the first one to pass four laws today, ' he added.


Following a marathon five-hour discussion, the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed four Bills, to negate the Centre's three contentious farm laws.


The legislations were backed by the Opposition parties, including SAD, AAP and MLAs of Lok Insaaf Party, even though BJP did not take part in the proceedings.


The Bills seek to amend the Farmers Produce Facilitation Act, the Farmers Agreement and Farm Services Act, the Essential Commodities Act, and the Civil Procedure Code.


The state government's legislative counter provides for imprisonment of not less than three years and fine for sale or purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the minimum support price.
The provisions exempt farmers from the attachment of land up to 2.5 acres and provide for the prevention of hoarding and black marketing of agricultural produce.


Talking about the Bills passed in Punjab Assembly, Mr Singhvi said, 'What Punjab has achieved today, most importantly is a minimal, mandatory MSP. What it has achieved is, punishable, violations of MSPs, if you try to get around it, by subterfuge.'


He said the Bills passed in the state Assembly provide for additional remedies to civil court, in addition to the remedies with SDMs and DMs.

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