Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Tuesday introduced a resolution in the Punjab Assembly opposing the Centre’s draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, calling it an attempt to reintroduce the repealed farm laws under a different name.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticized the Centre, stating, “The Union government is trying to bring back the farm laws through a different route. We completely reject this draft policy, as the Centre has yet to fulfill its promises to farmers, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).”
Last month, the Punjab government had officially rejected the Centre’s draft policy, arguing that it contained elements of the three contentious farm laws that were repealed in 2021 after a year-long protest by farmers. In recent weeks, farmers’ unions have been pressuring the state government to formally oppose the draft by passing a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha.
The Centre had shared the draft policy with states last year, seeking their feedback. However, CM Mann had already signaled Punjab’s opposition, accusing the Centre of reviving the repealed laws in a new format.
The resolution was introduced during a two-day special session of the Punjab Assembly, which began on Monday. The session is expected to focus on key issues related to agriculture and farmers’ rights, further intensifying the ongoing conflict between the Punjab government and the Centre over agricultural policies.
