Punjab Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Spend Night In Assembly Over Farm Bill

Chandigarh: MLAs of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party spent the night in the state legislative assembly building in protest against the Captain Amarinder Singh government not sharing the draft of a new law on agriculture.

In visuals, the MLAs are seen sitting cross-legged on the premises of the assembly building. They demanded the Congress government to share with them the draft copy of the proposed law to be introduced in the assembly on Tuesday.

Several AAP MLAs had sat in the well of the house till late on Monday, demanding the copies of the draft bill.

Punjab is looking to counter the effects of the centre’s new farm laws in the state level by using state laws as much as possible.

“AAP will support the legislation against the farm laws but the government should supply us with its copies. We haven’t got copies of other bills as well. How can our legislators discuss and debate important issues?” Leader of Opposition and AAP leader Harpal Cheema said, news agency PTI reported.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, which recently left the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance over the centre’s farm laws, said the bill should have been introduced in the assembly on Monday.

Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu also attended the assembly session for the first time since his resignation from the state cabinet last year.

On his YouTube channel, Mr Sidhu described the centre’s farm laws as a “brutal attack” on the federal structure.

He sought an assured minimum support price and government procurement of crops. The Congress leader said the centre talks of doubling farmers’ income, but is taking away the only assured income.