Congress Drafts Model Legislation An Attempt To Override Centre's Farm Reforms In States Ruled By It

In a bid to scuttle the implementation of the recently notified three agri-marketing and farm-sector laws which have drawn much angst from several opposition parties led by the Indian National Congress (INC), the Sonia Gandhi led party has now drafted a legislation to be implemented in States where INC is in power, reports Times of India.

The party has drafted a model law which it says will not only be circulated to the States ruled by it, but also to other States where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not in power. This comes four days after Gandhi had pressed on her Chief Ministers (CMs) to explore the ways to override the laws.

Congress party has called it's draft model legislation, "Protection of farmers interest and farm produce (special provisions) bill". It has been finalised by former union minister and senior Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is also party's in-house legal expert.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the passage for the implementation of any such law passed by the State Government to bypass the farm-sector reforms will also need the assent of President Ram Nath Kovind. This gains significance as it is likely that the Centre will advise President Kovind against green-lighting any such laws meant to scuttle the reforms.